Mohamed Salah has expressed remorse to his Liverpool teammates after a controversial interview that led to his exclusion from Arne Slot’s squad, according to teammate Curtis Jones.
Following Salah’s frustrated remarks after Liverpool’s draw with Leeds—a game where he remained on the bench for the third consecutive time—questions were raised about his future with the club.
However, Slot has since stated that the matter is behind them, with Jones highlighting Salah’s apology to the team.
“Mo is his own man and he can express himself freely,” Jones told Sky Sports.
“He apologized to us, saying: ‘If I’ve upset anyone or made you feel a certain way, I’m sorry,'” Jones recounted.
“That’s just who he is. From my perspective, he’s always been a positive presence. He had a big smile on his face, and everyone interacted with him in the same way.
“I think that desire to win is what drives him, and I doubt he’s the only player to feel this way.
“I understand there are right and wrong ways to express concerns. But a player who is indifferent towards sitting on the bench and not wanting to contribute is a bigger issue.
“When we’ve shown any frustration, even from myself, it’s always come from a place of wanting the best for the team.
“In the heat of the moment, it might not have come across perfectly, but that was never the intention to harm the team, the staff, or the manager.
“We’ve moved past that now, and the team is starting to come together, playing well and winning matches.”
Salah has now departed for the Africa Cup of Nations to represent Egypt, leaving him unavailable for Liverpool’s upcoming match against Tottenham.
Since Salah’s interview at Elland Road, Liverpool has secured victories against Inter Milan in the Champions League and Brighton in the Premier League.