Mohamed Salah left the pitch in tears last month after a heavy tackle from Real Madrid’s captain, Sergio Ramos in the first half of Liverpool’s 3 – 1 defeat.
He spoke to journalists about the injury and his chances of featuring in the FIFA World Cup holding in Russia later in the month.
How is your injury? Will you play the first game?
“Now I’m better. I hope to play the first game against Uruguay, but that will depend on how I feel when it approaches.”
The injury in Kiev, having to leave the field in a final of the Champions League… Was it the worst moment in your career?
“Yes, it was.”
We will finally see you in Russia, but did you ever fear for your participation in the World Cup?
“When I fell to the ground, I had a mixture of physical pain and a lot of worry. Also anger and sadness for not being able to continue playing the Champions League final. Moments later, I also thought about the possibility of not playing in the World Cup and that was a devastating thought.”
Much has been said about your fall with Sergio Ramos. Do you think it was normal?
“I don’t know. Maybe?”
Sergio Ramos said days ago: “I see the play well, he grabs me first by the arm and I fall to the other side, in fact he injures the other arm.” What do you think about that.
“It’s funny… ”
Ramos also noted that “if he had an injection he could’ve even played the second half.” Do you agree?
“[Laughs] My comment is that it’s always okay when the one who made you cry first, then makes you laugh. Maybe he could also tell me if I’m going to be ready for the World Cup?”
Sergio did send a message…
“He sent me a message, but I never told him it was ‘okay.'”
Let’s talk about the World Cup. How can you explain to a European what it means for Egypt to qualify for Russia?
“It’s the first time in 28 years that we qualified… It was not normal because we won the African Cup seven times, and we were champions in 2006, 2008 and 2010. It was common to win the African Cup, but we didn’t qualify for the World Cup. And it was something we all said: ‘wow, we have to do it, we have to do it.’ We had not achieved it for a long time and it was something very special. Maybe like for Spain to win the World Cup… ”
What is Egypt’s goal in the World Cup?
“I think we have a great team and a great coach [Hector Cuper], we want to qualify for the next round and do well.”
And your personal goal?
“Just to help the team to qualify and score goals, but mainly try to help the team do better in matches.”
What are the strengths of your national team?
“It’s hard to say, but I think our group and togetherness. We play differently with Hector Cuper than with our previous coach [Shawky Gharib]. We are strong as a group, we all have the same goal, to help the team win the game, that is the most important thing. But I can’t say only one strong point, the main one is that we all play together.”
Will you feel pressure from your supporters, who are very passionate, to play well in Russia?
“The pressure was to qualify for the World Cup. Of course, someone can now say ‘ok, we’ve qualified, that’s it’. But for me it’s not like that, we want to make history, achieve something different. In my head the pressure is to achieve something different from what we have done. Not just going there, three games and thank you very much. That doesn’t go through my head.”
Have you considered the possibility of a game against Spain?
“Could be, Spain or Portugal. Hopefully. They have a great team and it would be hard to play against them. But you never know what can happen.”
What do you like most about the Spanish team? Do you have a predilection for any player?
“I played with Diego Costa and Azpilicueta at Chelsea (2013-15), with Alberto Moreno [not called] at Liverpool… they have some top players. I can’t say one, but I like Costa a lot, when I played with him it was amazing. As a man he is top top top, and as a footballer he is very good.”
What is your first memory of a World Cup?
“I think the first one I remember is the 2002 World Cup. I couldn’t exactly tell you a match, but I did see games from my home in my town. Brazil won it. 2-1? No, 2-0, both goals by Ronaldo.”