Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has called out Mohamed Salah for the Liverpool forward’s recent comments about manager Arne Slot’s coaching style. Rooney labelled Salah’s comments as “selfish” and “disrespectful” and urged Slot to axe the Egyptian from the squad for his final farewell at Anfield next weekend.
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Salah, who is leaving Anfield at the end of the season, appeared to question Slot’s coaching after the Reds suffered a 12th Premier League defeat of the season away at Aston Villa on Saturday. He urged the club to return to “the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear” during former manager Jurgen Klopp’s tenure.
Salah’s comment was viewed as a disrespect to Slot and Rooney expressed his disappointment at how the Egyptian winger is conducting himself during his final days at Anfield.
“I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show. “It’s not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot. He wants to play heavy metal football, so he’s basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football. Now I don’t think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football anymore. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.”
“He’s almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn’t trust and believe in Arne Slot and almost thrown his teammates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position.”
Salah makes controversial comment following Liverpool’s damaging defeat at Aston Villa
Mohamed Salah could not hold back his disappointment after Liverpool fell to a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday. The Reds, who are struggling for a Champions League spot, were outplayed by Unai Emery’s men who qualified for Europe with the victory. Following the game, Salah took to social media to express his frustration in a comment that many interpreted as questioning manager, Arne Slot’s tactical decisions
Salah wrote on Instagram: “I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions. It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that.
“Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies. That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it.
“Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games.
“Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on.
“As I’ve always said, qualifying to next season’s Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen.”
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Slot dropped Salah earlier in the season after the winger accused the manager and Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus.” Salah remains one of the greatest Liverpool players, with 257 goals for the club. He won the Premier League title, 29 league goals last season but has managed just 12 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions this season.
The Reds now need a victory in their final game against Brentford to guarantee their spot in the Champions League next season.
