In Egypt, the sidelining of Mohamed Salah against Paris Saint-Germain went very badly. Seeing the biggest star of Egyptian football remain on the bench for the entirety of the Champions League quarter-final first leg sparked incomprehension and frustration in his country, where many felt unfair treatment reserved for the Liverpool striker. Beyond the simple sporting decision, some local media spoke of a form of humiliation for the man who has for years embodied the ambition of Egyptian football on the European scene. The defeat (2-0) of the Reds at the Parc des Princes, combined with the total absence of Salah, fueled criticism against the choices of Arne Slot, accused of having deprived his team of its player most capable of changing a major meeting. Because on the pitch, Liverpool appeared totally overwhelmed in the French capital. Dominated in all areas of the game, the Reds finished the match with 26% possession and no shots on target. A particularly worrying offensive record at this level of the competition. The decision not to use Salah quickly crystallized the debates around the strategy adopted by Slot. A justification which, however, was not enough to dispel the questions, as the European experience and the Egyptian’s ability to create the difference could have represented a solution for a Liverpool incapable of existing offensively.
However, the 33-year-old winger continues to display valuable production in a squad in full transition. Above all, his goal and his activity have restored confidence to Liverpool who must now reverse the situation against PSG on Tuesday evening at Anfield. “He scored a goal which he has the secret to in his first match at Anfield since announcing his departure and constantly threatened the right flank. He left the field to a well-deserved ovation.wrote the Liverpool Echo Saturday evening. Same story for the Daily Mail which unceremoniously publishes the following story: “Mohamed Salah scored his 256th goal in a Reds jersey, as Anfield savored every last moment of this glorious union between the supporters and the Kop idol they call the Egyptian King, in his first home match since the announcement of his upcoming departure”. The newspaper The Sun goes even further with some lyrical flights of fancy: “Salah responded four minutes later, delivering a performance as he always used to before this campaign of crisis and accusations of treason. His left foot bore the imprint of majesty, a reminder of how he ruled Anfield for so long, and why he did so.”. A rebound which obviously pleased the English press, but which also challenged Egypt, always very attentive to the daily life of its star and captain of the selection, especially before the 2026 World Cup.
Humiliating treatment that goes badly
In a meeting where the Reds will necessarily have to be much more enterprising, the presence of Mo Salah seems almost inevitable if the Reds want to overthrow the Parisian juggernaut of Luis Enrique. “If you asked any Liverpool fan, or England in general, or Egypt in particular, they would tell you that Salah would start given his crucial role in the Reds’ lineup and his exceptional ability to decide big matches like the one against Paris Saint-Germain. However, it seemed Slott’s stubbornness cost him a 2-0 defeat, as he failed to put a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes. Slott has certainly realized his mistake, especially after starting it today against Fulham, where he scored a goal in his own unique style. Although this is Mohamed Salah’s least successful season, he is still capable of deciding a game for Liverpool at any time”tells us Magdy Salama, Egyptian journalist for the media El Balad And Al Qahera News. It is clear that the humiliating treatment he received obviously shocked both Egypt and Liverpool. Especially since Salah has started his farewell round and this shock against PSG could well be one of his last Champions League meetings, since the question of his future is on everyone’s lips.
Announced in Italy, the United States but especially in Saudi Arabia, Mo Salah has no shortage of exit options. And in Egypt too, the future of its international side continues to generate a lot of ink. “I think Mohamed Salah deserved better treatment, especially from the club’s management and coaches. Liverpool’s poor season made Salah a scapegoat for the team’s poor performances, but in my opinion it wasn’t his fault. The departure of influential players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, as well as the decline in the form of midfielders, affected the entire team. In the end, however, Salah chose to leave on good terms and start thinking about a new challenge. Certainly, Mohamed Salah has not yet decided on his next destination. I believe he is capable of continuing his career in Europe, whether in Spain, France or Italy. No one can deny Salah’s immense talent, and although there are offers from Saudi Arabia and the United States on the horizon, he is expected to decide his next move in the coming days, especially ahead of the World Cup», concluded the Egyptian journalist at our microphone. In any case, the spotlight could well be on the 33-year-old Pharaoh on Tuesday evening, unless Arne Slot leaves him aside, once again.
