Arne Slot declared Mohamed Salah “more in than out” of his Liverpool plans as he suggested the Anfield contract wrangle is bringing the best out of the superstar winger.
Salah’s recent remarks suggesting he is “disappointed” by the club’s failure to offer a new deal have threatened to overshadow a huge week at Anfield, which hosts Real Madrid and Manchester City.
But in a twist of Salah’s remark that he is “more out than in” as he approaches the end of his contract, Slot sought to downplay the significance of the player’s comments.
“The only thing I can say is that if I look at my line-ups, Mo is more in than out. So that quote I can give you,” said Slot. “I don’t think that he is distracted at all. He is fully focused on the game tomorrow.
“If you had been at the Axa [training centre] today I don’t think any player talked about it – at least not while I was there. Players always give each other stick so maybe they did this now, but players are also focused on the short term and that is Madrid and that is City.”
‘Mo is in a good place at the moment’
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher accused Salah of being “selfish” by guaranteeing his future tops the agenda rather than the forthcoming marquee fixtures.
“I focus a bit more on what else he [Carragher] said – he said Mo was one of the five best players Liverpool ever had and I completely agree with him, which is not an easy thing as there have been many great players at this club,” said Slot.
“I don’t think it distracts Mo at all, maybe it even brings the best out of him if you look at his performances until now. Like I’ve said a few times already, my focus is the next game and if we had that game, another big game is coming up and it just keeps on going.
“I talk to Mo about what I expect from him, like I do with all the other players, and he is in a good place at the moment. I’m not distracted by his comments and I don’t feel his team-mates are.”
Slot defuses Salah grenade with humour
by Chris Bascombe
If Arne Slot were not a football manager, he could get himself a job as part of a bomb-disposal unit.
Liverpool’s head coach was chucked three hand grenades when inheriting the contract wrangles involving the three players who have been the foundation of a successful era.
While every comment about Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold gives the impression Anfield is about to resemble a scene from Apocalypse Now, Slot has been a study in pacifism.
Salah has been in especially explosive form on and off the pitch, his most incendiary remarks following his most consequential performances this season. Slot was dealing with the fallout again ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League visit.
The Dutchman’s response was to defuse through humour, his opening one-liner about Salah being “more in than out” – a subtle twist on the Egyptian’s observation he is more “out than in” with regards his Anfield future – considered the perfect riposte.
Many managers would have hidden behind the usual “no comment and move on”. Others might even have informed press officers to inform the gathered media that certain topics are out of bounds. Slot’s pragmatic approach is to let the story run its course without inflaming it.
He has revealed nothing about why negotiations are at a stalemate, but he has reacted to each intervention from the players’ side with logic rather than frustration. And just like the most astute managers – Sir Alex Ferguson was the master – he knows the power of giving the media just enough to satisfy those in need of copy, even if the full inside story is (sadly) rarely revealed in an open press conference.
Tuesday’s performance was further evidence of how Slot has been growing into his role, empowered by results and the rapport which is evolving between himself and the Kop.
Jurgen Klopp dominated the room as soon as he walked in, an instantly captivated audience anticipating entertainment. It was inevitable Slot would have to warm up the crowd before he could assume similar status, but he has made the ideal start to a daunting task, perhaps taking his cue from the chilled approach of his next opponent Carlo Ancelotti, rather than Klopp.
Managers at clubs of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United’s status need to be equipped to discuss more than tactics and injury updates. They are the ambassadors and club spokesman whenever a story creates hysteria. Only those with aura and authority can emit calm and sound like they mean it.
Being top of the Premier League and Champions League helps create such a jovial atmosphere, of course, with Slot’s recent press calls possessing more smiles than snarls.
There would be little tolerance for questions about whether “it is beginning to look a Slot like Christmas” from visiting media on the back of a series of defeats, or if Liverpool were in a world in which they were still mourning the absence of the previous manager, as many were predicting in pre-season.
What Liverpool desperately wanted this season was a manager of class on the training pitch and personality when faced with the ceaseless media duties.
The significant tests that truly matter for Slot are against Real Madrid on Wednesday and Manchester City on Sunday.
But do not underestimate the skill with which he is dealing with questions on the future of Anfield greats. By making every challenge sound enjoyable rather than awkward, Slot has succeeded in reasserting the view that the serious business is on the pitch.
