Liverpool manager Arne Slot has decided not to rely on the striker Mohamed Salah for the match with Inter in the Champions League and left him out of the group for the match at the “Giuseppe Meazza” on Tuesday night.
Here is what Slot said on the main topics
Have you spoken to Salah?
We informed him that he would not travel with us. This is the only communication from our side to him. Before Saturday we had a lot of conversations - sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. I am usually calm and polite, but that does not mean I am weak. When a player says things like this, we have to react as a club. And you see he's not here.
About the broken relationship between the two
I didn't feel anything like that at all. It was a surprise to me when I heard his comments. He has the right to see things his way. When I didn't let him play anymore - usually the players don't like the coach that much - but he was very respectful to his staff and his teammates and trained very hard, so it was a little bit of a surprise when I heard he made those comments. But this is not the first time a player hasn't played and... My reaction is also clear - and that's why he's not here now.
Did Salah mean to say that you have something personal against him?
The only one who can answer that is Mo himself. I can guess, but I don't think it's the right thing to do at this point. It's hard for me to say who exactly he means in this situation.
Will he return to the team?
I firmly believe that for a player there is always a way back.
Has Mo played his last game for Liverpool?
I have no idea, I can't answer that question at the moment.
About the team's difficulties
As a team, we have been experiencing increasing difficulties this season with the playing patterns that opponents use against us. I'm not just talking about the long balls, as they often play against us. I've tried a lot of solutions - that's my job. We looked very vulnerable against Nottingham Forest and PSV, so I decided to use another midfielder against West Ham and we won that game. Then against Sunderland I put Salah on in the second half, and then I decided to play in a sort of “diamond“ against Leeds. I could have put Mo on the right instead of Ekitike.“
Inter slot
In the current team of Chivu, I see more similarities than differences compared to last season. The same system and almost all the same players. The new coach has probably brought some of his own things to the team, but the way he presses high up the pitch — I see more similarities than differences with Inzaghi. It's quite normal — if you take over a team that has reached the Champions League final, there is every reason to continue doing what you are doing.
Kivu slot
I think I played against him when he was at Ajax. His team defends very aggressively with high pressing, but can also play the ball out from the back.
On Chiesa's form
It's not my job to decide who should be called up to the Italian national team, or the Netherlands, or England. I'm very happy to see that Federico Chiesa is in a much better position this season compared to last. He had some fitness problems before, but this season he's had more playing time and had some very good moments. I like him both as a player and as a person.
On the absent players
Federico Chiesa is sick... there's nothing we can do. If he makes an incredible recovery, which the doctors don't expect, he could travel tomorrow, but I don't expect that. Cody Gakpo suffered an injury against Leeds and will be out for several weeks.
Source: sportal.bg