Jurgen Klopp apologises to Egypt fans for Salah’s England return
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has issued an apology to angry Egypt fans after breaking the news of Mohamed Salah’s return to England too early. Salah suffered a posterior muscle injury during Egypt’s draw against Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations last week, prompting all parties to agree that the 31-year-old should undergo recovery work in Merseyside.
The decision sparked controversy in Egyptian circles, with record appearance maker Ahmed Hassan stating that Salah should remain with the national team, even if he only had one leg to stand on. Local media also criticized Klopp for not allowing the Egypt Football Association (FA) to make the official announcement.
Responding to the dissension, Klopp defended the decision and expressed his understanding of the situation. He emphasized that the shared goal between Liverpool and Egypt is to ensure Salah’s speedy recovery. Klopp stated, If a player is injured, we try everything to help him get fit as quickly as possible. He further clarified that should Salah recover ahead of schedule and Egypt is still in the tournament, he will be allowed to return to the national team.
Despite the criticism, Klopp urged sensibility from all parties involved, including the Egyptian FA. He acknowledged that if he spoke prematurely, it was not intentional but rather due to a lack of knowledge about the situation. Klopp stated, I just didn’t know how the situation was.
Salah has since returned to the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby for recovery work. Although his tournament is not over, he is expected to be out of action for at least three weeks. Nevertheless, with one week already passed, there remains a possibility for Salah to make a return if Egypt reaches the final.
In conclusion, Klopp’s apology to Egypt fans addresses the backlash received for prematurely revealing Salah’s return to England. While emphasizing their shared goal of Salah’s speedy recovery, Klopp expressed his understanding of the situation. The Egyptian captain’s return to Egypt will be reassessed based on his fitness and the progression of the tournament.
