Arne Slot has spoken for the first time since Mohamed Salah's Liverpool exit announcement and shared a glimpse into the beginning of their relationship
Arne Slot admits he was impressed with Mohamed Salah's professionalism when he arrived at Liverpool before the pair clashed. Salah fell out with Slot late last year and has now announced he will leave the Reds at the end of this season.
This campaign will be the Egyptian's last at Anfield, as after nine years filled with copious goals and a handful of trophies, he'll bid the club farewell. Salah's decision was confirmed via a lengthy social media message, in which he thanked his colleagues and the supporters.
But Liverpool's season has not gone swimmingly. They face an uphill battle to finish in the top four and in December after a 3-3 draw against Leeds United, Salah lashed out after being relegated to the bench by Slot for consecutive games.
The 33-year-old claimed he had "no relationship" with his manager and that someone was attempting to "force him out" of the club. These cracks were soon patched over but Slot has now provided a glimpse into what his relationship with Salah was like to begin with.
On Wednesday, Slot broke his silence regarding Salah's impending departure. He told the club's official website: "He broke record after record after record.
"Then I started working with him and already the first day I was impressed by his professionalism because as with any season, it starts with a test that shows how much they did in the off-season and he beat all of them. He was the fittest player that came back and I think that's the ideal situation that you want as a manager: that your star player comes back as fit as he did.
"He had nothing to prove, but for himself he had a lot to prove because Mo always thinks he has to prove something every three days. That hunger never stops and that is something that I find most special about him.
"Everything he's done for the club, but the moment I started working with him I knew it after one day, let alone after a few weeks or months, that it isn't a coincidence that he's been so influential in the last 10 years in football."
Despite this early impression, Salah found himself dropped from Slot's starting XI earlier this campaign. The spat in December ensued and the forward was excluded from a midweek Champions League squad to face AC Milan.
Slot said: "Usually I am calm and polite, but that doesn't mean I am weak. If a player has these comments about so many things, then it's about the club and me to react. We reacted in a way you can see - he's not here. I don't feel my authority is undermined, it is not the way I feel it."
The Egyptian then jetted off to the Africa Cup of Nations and upon his return it is believed constructive talks were held. He has since been integrated back into Slot's team and will continue to feature until his end-of-season exit.
Liverpool are next in action early Saturday afternoon as they contest an FA Cup quarter-final away at Manchester City. They then face PSG in the Champions League before hosting Fulham.