Wayne Rooney Critiques Mohamed Salah's Comments on Liverpool
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is jeopardizing his legacy, according to former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.
On Saturday, Salah expressed feelings of being "thrown under the bus" by Liverpool and indicated a breakdown in his relationship with head coach Arne Slot.
Rooney urged Slot to assert his authority by excluding Salah from Tuesday's Champions League match against Inter Milan and next Saturday's home game against Brighton. "Arne Slot must demonstrate his authority and tell him, 'You are not traveling with the team; what you said is unacceptable,'" Rooney stated in a recent podcast episode.
He added, "Take yourself off to Afcon and let everything calm down. If I were in his position, I would ensure he is not part of the team." Rooney emphasized that Salah needs to resolve his issues with Slot or consider leaving Liverpool. "This situation needs to be resolved quickly, one way or another," he noted.
Salah, who is 33 years old, has netted 250 goals in 420 appearances for Liverpool but has not started in the last three matches, remaining an unused substitute in Saturday's 3-3 draw against Leeds United.
Following the match, Salah lamented, "I have stated many times that I had a good relationship with the manager, but suddenly, we appear to have no relationship. It feels like the club has thrown me under the bus. I believe it is evident that someone wanted me to take all the blame."
Salah, whose 29 Premier League goals last season were instrumental in Liverpool's title win, signed a new two-year contract in April.
Rooney questioned Salah's decision to publicly voice his frustrations. "He is absolutely destroying his legacy at Liverpool," he remarked. "It would be tragic for him to squander it all. He has approached this situation incorrectly."
Liverpool has struggled to replicate the success of Slot's first season, currently sitting ninth in the league, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal, with only seven wins from their first 15 matches.
Salah has scored four goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season. Rooney criticized Salah's comment that he does not need to fight for his position because he has already earned it. "Time catches up with everyone, and this season, he hasn't looked his best or sharpest," Rooney stated. "He should be eager to prove himself and say, 'Okay, I'll show you.'
"To claim he doesn't need to earn his place because he has already done so is arrogant. One must perform at their best consistently to remain in the team. If I were one of his teammates, I would be quite unhappy with his remarks, especially when Liverpool needs him the most. His words have thrown Liverpool under the bus, in a sense. While he has been incredible for the club, this was disrespectful to his teammates, manager, and fans. I suspect he will be very quiet around the training ground, creating a negative atmosphere for the new players that Arne has integrated into the squad. I am confident he will regret his comments in the coming years."
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