Mohamed Salah has admitted a mutual desire to be Liverpool’s star goalscorer proved to be a source of tension in his relationship with former teammate Sadio Mane.
Alongside Roberto Firmino, Salah and Mane formed a devastating attacking trio which came to define Jurgen Klopp’s time at Anfield. The two wingers racked up incredible numbers of goals but often faced accusations of being selfish when it came to helping the other score.
Salah and Mane shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot award with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018/19 after racking up 22 goals, with both Liverpool stars desperate to score goals and be the star of the team, and Salah confessed this often led to some uncomfortable interactions with Mane.
“Yes, there was tension with Sadio,” he told France Football. “Mind you, we were professional until the end, I don’t think it affected the team.
“It’s human to want more, I understand that, he’s a competitor. Off the pitch, we weren’t very close, but we always respected each other.”
Salah has previously admitted he may have been “selfish” towards Mane at times but insisted the statistics – his 18 assists for Mane in particular – prove he was always willing to make the right decision with Liverpool in mind.
“People can think what they want, it’s their right,” he said. “But I invite everyone to note that the person who provided Mane with the most assists is me.
“We can look at the facts, but it’s obviously easier to throw out phrases like that; it makes the headlines, I know how it works. As long as it remains within the limits of respect, that’s fine with me. But that doesn’t mean that this opinion is true. At the end of the day, I know what I did, and my conscience is clear.”
