Mohamed Salah, the renowned forward for Liverpool, has recently been honored with the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award. Speaking to France Football in an exclusive interview, he opened up about his astonishment at the change in attitude around the squad. This transformation, in part, has occurred since new boss Arne Slot arrived from Feyenoord last summer.
Salah’s impact this season has been extraordinary, scoring 28 goals in the Premier League alone. Liverpool’s fortunes have greatly improved under Slot, due in no small part to their newfound offensive prowess. He won the league title in his first season with a 5-1 thrashing at home of Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of April.
His appointment replaced the dog-eat-dog nature of Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp with a decidedly more chef-like or herbal essence vibe. Salah’s statement indicated that Klopp’s spell as coach was over, with the end of the 2023/24 season. He thought it resulted in the team getting a bit too comfortable. Perhaps most importantly, he reemphasized the idea that Klopp left behind a solid foundation for the team. As his term approached its conclusion, he began to feel that the players were getting a little complacent.
Salah pointed out what makes Slot and Klopp different from one another. He painted Slot as intensely blunt. He said the new manager’s strategy has contributed to a more welcoming environment to encourage dialogue between players and coaching staff. This eagerness to be receptive to feedback from coaches has, Salah believes, been pivotal in him getting the best out of himself and his colleagues.
Slot worked to foster a strong link with Salah. He challenged him to be a beacon of accountability for the rest of the team. This very straightforward approach seems to have really clicked with Salah. He has adopted the role of elder statesman with gusto.
As Liverpool prepares to face Arsenal this Sunday at Anfield, Salah acknowledged that Slot and his staff’s willingness to engage in meaningful conversations has contributed positively to the team’s competitive level. The fixtures against Liverpool will give the Gunners a perfect test ahead of the title battle.
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