After Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League victory at Inter Milan, the similarity of the duo’s reactions suggested a previously agreed position in an attempt to reduce the fallout from the Egypt international’s criticism of head coach Arne Slot and his alleged treatment by the club.
But considering the committed and resilient performance against an Inter side that has not lost in 18 European home games, it appears the side are doing their best to compartmentalize the line.
Szoboszlai – arguably Salah’s most important confidante among the players – walked a carefully balanced line when asked about the situation.
“I have a very close relationship with him. It is his and his own choice with what he does with his own life and his own career,” said the Hungary captain, who took advantage of Salah being left at home by taking responsibility for scoring the 88th-minute penalty at San Siro.
“It has nothing to do with the players, I think, so there’s nothing to say.”
Salah claimed on Saturday evening that he had been “thrown under the bus” due to the team’s run of poor results from September to November – a period in which he scored just twice – and questioned whether he had a future after this weekend’s home game against Brighton, ahead of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Asked if he wanted Salah to stay, Szoboszlai said: “It’s not our decision as players.
“I love him as a person, as a friend of mine. As a player he has done so much for this club. It will be the decision of the club and his.”
Curtis Jones’s stance on the Salah saga
Jones, who impressed on the left of a midfield diamond as Slot changed his formation to include two strikers Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, denied that Salah’s comments had changed the atmosphere in the dressing room.
But he said the win, which made it four-match unbeaten, had certainly provided a much-needed confidence boost after Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds was followed by the Egyptian making his frustrations public.
“Mo is his own man,” said the midfielder. “I can’t really talk about another man and his business. Everyone knows how much of a legend Mo is.
“When you’re going to win a game, it’s always the best feeling. We just won an important game against a great team. The mood is good.”
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker fully backed Slot in a pre-match press conference, and Jones echoed those sentiments when asked if the side were behind the Dutchman.
“We always are,” he said. “He’s human at the end of the day. If we get beat in games, it affects him. It affects all of us, just like it affects the fans.”
“He is a positive man, he always brings change. The playing style has changed a bit.”
“He’s just as hungry as ever, just the same with us. He’s there with us and we’re there with him too.”
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