Tag: Salah

These are interesting times for the beautiful game in Africa. An hitherto unheralded Egyptian is breaking records to the consternation of pundits, who didn’t reckon with his talent, when the European leagues began last August. Indeed, this Egyptian literally failed in his first sojourn in England, with Chelsea, leading to his sale to Italian side Roma FC.

Jose The Special One, Mourinho sold him off to Roma on grounds of immaturity, believing that with regular appearances in Italy, this prodigious talent would blossom to earn his stripes. The result of that foresight a few years ago stares us in the face, with the rave reviews he has enjoyed this season.

Step forward Mohammed Salah, the left footer who prefers to operate from the right wing with a good eye for scoring goals, in a selfless manner. Salah’s strength is his fondness of working with his fellow strikers Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. This trio have scored 88 goals (still counting) in all competitions. Having warmed his heart to his colleagues upfront, getting balls whenever he is free to score goals is like second nature to Salah.

What do I mean? Salah has provided 13 assists to his mates (Mane and Firmino) to score goals. He has scored 43 goals from 47 matches and 13 assists. Awesome statistics for a  debutant at a top club such as Liverpool. Mane has contributed eight assists to Salah and Firmino, scoring 18 goals. Firmino has 13 assists like Salah but has scored 26 goals. They have also reciprocated the Egyptian’s gesture. Little wonder that Salah has scored this season 40 goals, 31 of them in the Barclays English Premier League.

Had Salah, Mane and Firmino been competing for the highest goals scorers’ award, it would have affected their potency in front of the goalpost. The thinking that strikers are selfish has been thrashed by the trio, with the complimentary manner in which they have scored goals this season. And with a total of 43 goals this season, Salah has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the top scorer on the continent in all competitions as we enter the final stages of the season.

Salah’s 43 have come in just 47 games, although Ronaldo beats that with an incredible 42 in 39 appearances. Roma’s fans in Italy were stunned not to see Salah celebrate after scoring two goals against his former team. They appreciated his humility, knowing that he didn’t sell himself to Liverpool. Roma FC’s management did. Don’t be surprised if Salah gets the fans’ reciprocal deafening ovation next Wednesday in Italy.

It would be a travesty to do a wholesale comparison between Salah and Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. These twosome are soccer greats who have averaged over 40 goals per season in the last decade. This is the difference with Salah, whose ground breaking feats offer a breath of fresh air for soccer pundits.

Whereas Salah scored 43 goals with 13 assists, Lionel Messi netted 39 goals with 14 assists. Ronaldo had 39 goals and eight assists before Wednesday night’s Champions League cracker against Bayern Munich. Inter Milan’s Ciro Immobile’s 36 goals and nine assists highlight how prolific these strikers have been this season.

It is looking like a Real Madrid vs Liverpool finals at this year’s UEFA Champions League – a good prospect where the best two scorers come head-to-head. I can’t wait for the incursions of both strikers in the course of the final game. This final prediction is hinged on the outcome of both first leg matches at Anfield and in Germany. Anything is possible in football. It may not happen as I have predicted. But, if it does, then it would be a final game to remember, should Ronaldo and Salah play to their full potential.

Ronaldo is the man for the big moments. Salah is new on this terrain but Liverpool’s pedigree in the competition and instructions from coach Jurgen Klopp, should propel Salah to greatness.

Is Salah all about scoring goals? What does he do in his spare time? Is he the routine soccer star who enjoys life to the zenith? Salah told it all to CNN on Wednesday.

Speaking to CNN, Salah plays down his importance, talks nutrition and eating Egypt’s national dish – kushari – as soon as he lands at home, and how his footballing experience has enabled him to deal with pressures of life.

‘’Kushari’’ is made from rice, lentils and pasta mixed together, with a spiced tomato sauce and garlic vinegar. On top, you have chickpeas and crispy fried onions. Hot sauce, garlic vinegar and garlic juice are all optional extras.

‘’Nutrition is so important, it’s part of the game,’’ he says. ‘’It has helped with my recovery, allowed me to sleep better and helped my body adapt quickly. My nutritionist says that because I don’t have any fat on my body, I can eat what I want. I also don’t drink so it’s fine. When I go back to Egypt, I call my friend from the airport to buy kushari for us to eat in the car. I pull my hoodie over my head, jump into the car and then I’m eating it straight away.’’

‘’If you talk only about Egypt, we are 100 million,’’ Salah continues. ‘’I have to be natural and not doing anything fake, not lying on social media, in interviews and life. This is my life, it’s an easy life. It’s not complicated. I have nothing much to do during the day but it’s a responsibility in the end.

‘’You have to take it easy and carry on. I’m not nervous about that,’’ he adds. ‘’It’s also a little bit difficult because you don’t have the freedom to make mistakes or something wrong. That’s pressure but when you’ve been under pressure for many years you can deal with it. It’s fine,’’ Salah tells CNN.

Will Liverpool sell Salah for the  big cash? Liverpool made it clear after beating Watford in March that they would not consider any approaches for Salah and his remarkable form — he has scored seven times in his last six appearances, including Tuesday’s double against Roma — has strengthened their resolve.

Liverpool want to keep Jurgen Klopp’s side together and Salah is central to that. They are also committed to agreeing a new deal with Roberto Firmino, who, like Salah, scored twice in the 5-2 victory over Roma in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday. There are plans to overhaul Madrid’s squad but the fact that Salah has no buy-out clause in his contract complicates their pursuit.

So, will Salah stay at Anfield next year? don’t bet on it. The transfer season is filled with intrigues, especially when the players decide to go for the cash.

Mail online’s writer Pete Jenson analysed the other scenario of Barcelona FC’s management looking to torpedo Real Madrid in the quest for Salah’s signature next season thus: ‘’Barcelona are unlikely to make any attempt. Why buy the Red Messi when you have the original? They don’t have €200m. And they also have Antoine Griezmann on his way for half that amount.’’

‘’Real Madrid will be the buying club if anyone swoops this summer. The problem for Real Madrid is how they juggle the long-held desire to sign Neymar with a move for someone who would swallow up the budget to bring the Brazilian,’’ wrote Jenson.

What do fellow Liverpool players think of Salah?  ‘’Forty-three goals, guys,’’ said Lovren, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘’Forty-three goals! F****** hell! I believe he should be regarded as one of the best three in the world at the end of the year. But, for us? He is the one.’’

‘’He’s becoming the superstar,’’ says Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren. ‘Maybe I couldn’t look into the future in pre-season and think he could do this. But now? They should be talking about him for the Ballon d’Or. When people talk about Messi and Ronaldo, they should talk about Salah.’’

This is not a statement made for effect. Lovren might be one of Salah’s closest friends in the squad — the two frequently engage in winding each other up, whether at Melwood or on the social media — but his words reflect the levels to which he has climbed.

Next week Tuesday and Wednesday are key dates for players of Real Madrid and Liverpool. The odds to qualify for the final game favour these two teams. But, football is a crazy game when it comes to predicting true winners.