Following his public remarks regarding manager Arne Slot, former England captain Wayne Rooney has called Mohamed Salah “selfish” and urged Liverpool F.C. to exclude the forward from their season-ending match.
Following Liverpool’s 4-2 loss to Aston Villa F.C., Salah provoked controversy by demanding that the team revert to the “heavy metal” style of football popularized by former manager Jürgen Klopp.
Salah declared, “That is the football I know how to play, and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good.”
“Everyone who joins this club should adjust to it; it cannot be compromised.”
Many people interpreted the comments as a critique of Slot’s strategy. Rooney thinks the Egyptian overreached.
On Monday, Rooney told the BBC, “I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool.”
“He has no reason to come out and make another jab at Slot.”
Salah’s ability to maintain the high-intensity style he wants reinstated at Anfield was another point raised by the former England international.
“He’s essentially saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football because he wants to play heavy metal football,” stated
“I don’t think Mo Salah can handle that kind of football anymore.” His legs, in my opinion, have gone to play at such a high tempo and intensity.
If he were in charge, the former captain of Manchester United FC claimed he would bench Salah for the last match against Brentford FC.
“In the last game, if I were Arne Slot, I would have him far from the stadium.
He remarked, “He’s practically just dropped the grenade and said he doesn’t trust and believe in Arne Slot.”
Rooney likened the circumstances to his own conflict with renowned boss Alex Ferguson.
“I was done with Alex Ferguson.” He dropped me out of the squad for Alex Ferguson’s most recent game at Old Trafford because of a disagreement and fallout, he clarified.
Despite helping the team win the Premier League in Slot’s first season, Salah will depart Liverpool at the end of the current campaign after scoring 257 goals and collecting six major trophies. Rooney feels that what should have been a joyful farewell has been marred by the most recent incident.
“You can’t publicly disrespect him twice like he has and get away with it,” he continued.
He deserves a fitting farewell, of sure, but is this the only reason? It’s unfortunate to see one of the greatest Premier League legends depart the league, most likely in this circumstance.
