Coach of the Egyptian national team, Hector Cuper has defended his decision to let star player Mohamed Salah sit out Friday’s loss to Uruguay in the second game of Group A in the 2018 FIFA World Cup holding in Russia.
Salah was in tears as the Pharaohs lost to the South Americans via a José Gimenez header from the box in the 89th minute.
But Cuper said he decided not to use the player in order not to aggravate the injury he suffered three weeks ago in the UCL final.
However, he said the 26-year-old would be picked for the team’s next group game.
Cuper said after the game in Yekaterinburg, “He’ s certainly important l, nobody can deny that, but you need a good team too — and we are a good team.
“If Mo had been on the pitch it may have been different but we can’t know that.
“He did not play today because we wanted to avoid risk or danger but I think that he will be fine for the next match,” said the coach.
“Yesterday we were quite certain that he would play. At the end of training, he was examined in depth and there was some doubt if he fell or was hit by another player.
“We thought perhaps he might get another injury and we want to avoid that so we decided not to take that risk.
“We want him on top form for Saudi Arabia and Russia.”