Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp calls on Egypt to heal rift with Mohamed Salah

Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Egypt’s football association must build bridges with Mohamed Salah to heal a growing rift between them.

The Liverpool forward, 26, has become embroiled in a lengthy dispute with his country’s football governing body, which has escalated in recent days following a series of public criticisms in the wake of a poor World Cup showing in Russia.

Salah has defended a letter sent to the Egyptian FA by his lawyer Ramy Abass, which listed seven demands, including increased personal security and better regulation of the number of personal appearances he is required to make during major tournaments.

Salah clarified his remarks by saying that he was asking for better security for the whole team, claiming that the players were frequently disturbed inside the hotel.

He was also unhappy that the association allowed a meeting at their World Cup training base this summer with Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been heavily criticised for human rights abuses, including persecution of LGBTQ people.

In addition, he accused the association of hampering the national team’s World Cup preparations by flying in celebrities to visit their hotel in Russia.

Klopp is certain that Salah still wants to play for Egypt, despite the row and the disappointment of failing to make it through the group stage in Russia.

The Liverpool manager is also sure that the dispute will not affect the player’s performances at club level, but has indicated that Egypt’s football authorities need to handle the situation better.

Asked if he was worried that Salah’s club form might be affected, Klopp said: “I can’t see that at the moment. His heart is 100 per cent clear: He wants to play for play for his country and he wants to play for us.

“So here, you have to sort it, and there, they have to sort it. When was the last time Egypt had a player like him? They need to get used to it. So far, maybe it was not perfect. Make it perfect, and everything is fine at the end.”

open image in gallery

Salah, in the main, had a magnificent first season at Liverpool after his £36.9million move from Roma in 2017, scoring 44 goals and winning the PFA Player of the Year award.

However, the campaign ended in disappointment, as he suffered a shoulder injury inflicted by Sergio Ramos during the Champions League final against Real Madrid, and was forced off during the first half of the 3-1 defeat in Kiev.

He recovered to play in the World Cup, and scored in both of his appearances in Russia, but Egypt lost all three of their group matches.

open image in gallery

However, he has started the new season well, with two goals in Liverpool’s opening three Premier League matches, all of which have been won, to leave Klopp’s side in good spirits as they prepare for today’s trip to Leicester.

Klopp said: “He’s a very smart person, very smart. He’s not a kid any more and he doesn’t expect that everything will be on a high all the time. If it is not like that any more, then he will dig deep. He is completely settled.

“Of course nobody wanted to have the situation that happened in the Champions League final. And the World Cup was the World Cup. Maybe they see it differently but it was not a big surprise Egypt didn’t go to the semi-final. That’s it, so he’s here and he is completely fine.”