Jurgen Klopp hits back at reporter in furious defence of Mohamed Salah after Liverpool star's loyalty to Egypt questioned

25/01/2024 01:05

Jurgen Klopp wasn’t happy about a question over Mohamed Salah's return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Egyptian has returned to Merseyside after picking up a back injury during his country's group stage campaign.

Salah could still return if he's recovered in time for the later stages of the tournament, but a BeIn Sports journalist after Liverpool's Carabao Cup win over Fulham asked about the sentiment that the forward could be putting his club first.

"I cannot be part of that discussion," Klopp replied. "So, Egypt and Liverpool have exactly the same interests, we want Mo Salah fit as quickly as possible.

"If he stays there and can't do the proper treatment that will just delay everything, especially for Egypt if they go through the tournament.

"So, we bring him here not because we want to take him away from Egypt but because we want to offer the best medical treatment, that's all we want.

"It's all agreed and it's clear, if Egypt go through to the final and Mo is fit, Mo goes back, 100 per cent, Mo wants that, we want that we don't plan with Mo and think we can do a little bit here or there."

It was also put to Klopp that he could have put pressure on Salah to return by announcing he would come back for treatment before it was agreed, the manager suggested that wasn't true either.

He continued: "We are completely honest, and if I said something too early… what I said, I didn't announce it, I said 'I think it's agreed' that's what I heard. I have so many things to do and so many things going on around me.

"The rest, some people make something out of it, and if somebody questions the loyalty of Mo Salah they should ask themselves if their loyalty is right, because Mo Salah is definitely the most loyal Egyptian I've met in my life."