English Premier League star Mohamed Salah has spoken out over his shock and disappointment at being left on the bench in consecutive matches following Liverpool’s 3 3 draw with Leeds United, saying he feels he is being made a scapegoat for the champions’ struggles this season. Speaking to journalists after Saturday’s game, Salah said his recent bench role has led to him being blamed for Liverpool’s poor run of form.
Liverpool have failed to win eight of their 15 league matches so far and have taken maximum points just twice in their last 10 games, a sharp contrast to their dominant campaign last season. Salah, who had started every league game during much of the downturn, has now been benched in three successive matches and did not feature in two of them, a development the 33 year old found hard to understand after scoring 188 league goals since joining the club in 2017.
“[I can’t believe] that I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes! The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career,” he said. “I’m very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why.”
Salah suggested that his reduced role contradicts the assurances he was given after signing a two year contract extension in the summer and claimed he is now being made to shoulder the blame for the team’s decline. “It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am in the bench for three games so I can’t say they keep the promise.”
The forward also revealed that his relationship with the manager appears to have broken down completely. “I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club,” he said.
Despite his frustration, Salah reaffirmed his love for Liverpool and its supporters, saying the club will always remain close to his heart. “This club, I always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much. I will always do. I called my mum yesterday you guys didn’t know if I would start or not, but I knew. Yesterday I said to them, come to the Brighton game on 13 December. I don’t know if I am going to play or not, but I am going to enjoy it. In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now.”
The Egyptian captain, who is set to feature at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, added that he intends to bid farewell to fans before leaving for international duty. “I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to Africa Cup of Nations. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there,” he said.
