‘I am not weak’ says Slot, but Salah could return
By BBC, December 9, 2025Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he is “not weak” and denies the situation with Mohamed Salah has undermined his authority.
The 33-year-old winger has been left out of the squad to face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday after giving an explosive interview two days ago, claiming he was “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and his relationship with Slot had broken down.
Slot says he does not feel that way and was “surprised” by Salah’s comments.
Speaking in Milan on Monday night, Slot added he had “no clue” if Salah, who signed a new two-year contract in April, had played his last game for Liverpool, but added he was a “firm believer that there is always a possibility to return for a player”.
He said his conversation with Salah to tell him he would not travel to Milan was “a short one”.
“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 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.”