Liverpool manager Arne Slot states he is “not weak” and rejects claims that the issue with Mohamed Salah has compromised his authority.
The 33-year-old winger has been excluded from the squad to play against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday after an explosive interview two days prior, in which he stated he was “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and that his relationship with Slot had deteriorated.
Slot expressed that he doesn’t share that sentiment and was “taken aback” by Salah’s remarks.
Speaking in Milan on Monday evening, Slot mentioned he had “no idea” whether Salah, who inked a new two-year deal in April, had played his final game for Liverpool but stated he was a “strong believer that there is always a chance for a player to return.”
He described his chat with Salah to inform him he wouldn’t be going to Milan as “brief.”
“Usually I am calm and polite, but that doesn’t mean I am weak,” he said.
“If a player has these commands about so many things, then it’s about me and the club to react. We reacted in a way you can see—he’s not here.”
He added, “I don’t feel my authority is undermined; it is not the way I feel it.
“After tomorrow we will look at the situation. There is always the possibility to return for a player. I have no clue [if he has played his last game for Liverpool]—I cannot answer that question at this point in time.”
Salah stated in his interview that it was “very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame,” but Slot says he does not know if that comment was aimed at him and gave his reasons for leaving Salah out for the past three games.
“It is hard for me to know who he was talking about,” Slot said.
“That is not the way I feel. He has the right to feel the way he does, but he does not have the right to share it with the media.
“He was very respectful and had trained really hard before the weekend—to that extent, it was a surprise to me the comments he gave.
“Yes, we were [on speaking terms], but it doesn’t mean we were always agreeing on things.
“But it is not the first or the last time that a player who is not playing has said something similar to that.
According to sources speaking to BBC Sport, the choice to not include Salah in the squad was made with Slot’s complete backing, and it is in the best interest of everyone concerned for the player to take a short break from selection due to the nature and timing of his public remarks.
It is acknowledged that the club will not impose any formal disciplinary measures.
Egypt forward Salah is set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations next Monday and is also expected to miss Liverpool’s Premier League home match against Brighton on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, Salah has netted 250 goals, yet he has only five in 19 matches this season.
Slot has announced a 19-player roster for Tuesday, while the Reds will also be without forwards Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa, as well as defensive midfielder Wataru Endo.
“We as a team have struggled this season. I have tried to come up with solutions—that is my job. We tried many things, and we looked very vulnerable against Nottingham Forest and PSV, so I decided to play with an extra midfielder.”
