View 2 ImagesMarco van Basten has given his two cents about Mohamed Salah(Image: MB Media/Getty Images)
Former Netherlands and AC Milan star Marco van Basten has questioned Liverpool star Mohamed Salah after the forward’s recent comments. Salah claimed to have been thrown under the bus at Anfield and his first-team absence continued on Tuesday night.
Salah played just 45 minutes across Liverpool’s last three league matches, with Arne Slot bringing him on for the second half against Sunderland but leaving him on the bench against West Ham and Leeds. The forward missed out entirely on Tuesday, not making the trip to Italy as Slot’s team claimed a late win away to Inter Milan.
Van Basten, as translated by Sport Witness, accused Salah of having “The brains of a beetle”. He also questioned the forward’s form this season, adding: “He’s done very well, but in recent months he’s simply been poor.”
Fellow pundit Theo Janssen, who played for the Netherlands during Van Basten’s time as manager, offered his own criticism of Salah. “He’s bringing everything into it, but it’s very simple. What has he shown this season?” Janssen asked.
“He extended his contract and the club paid him a huge salary. He’s simply having a poor season, and then the manager has to make a decision. I think Slot waited a long time to take him off because he has a fantastic track record. This interview is terrible. I’m bigger than the club, and it’s all about me, and the club doesn’t want me.”
Liverpool have just one more match in the Premier League before the deadline to allow players to link up with their national sides for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. Regardless of whether Salah features against Brighton, speculation is expected to follow the forward while he is away on Egypt duty.
Reds boss Arne Slot was reluctant to speak about Salah after the win in Milan, opting instead to praise his team for their hard-earned victory, but anticipated further questions later in the week. “I can fully understand if I go into the press conference on Friday and all the questions are on Mo but I think these players deserve for it to be about them tonight,” he said.
View 2 ImagesVirgil van Dijk was asked about Salah after Liverpool beat Inter Milan(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking after the match, Salah’s team-mate Virgil van Dijk was asked if the former Roma star needed to apologise for his comments. “An apology? I don’t think I am the one who has to speak about if someone has to apologise,” the captain said.
“It’s him airing his feelings, and that is something the club has to deal with and me as well. Nothing has really changed, we’ve have our responsibility. So the focus was there. Nothing has changed and he trained as well by the way.”
“The reality is Mo is also going to Africa at the weekend, I have known Mo for such a long time, been through a lot, highs and lows, we’re a big part of this at LFC, so we speak and those types of things will stay indoors as they should. And we as a team of players we raise ourselves and be against the outside noise and I encourage the players to listen.”