Egypt and Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah has revealed the career-defining advice given to him by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Salah is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career, having helped Arne Slot’s side to a 13-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table following their impressive 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
Salah, speaking TNT Sports revealed advice given to him by Wenger was crucial to his development as a consistent match-winner.
“I think so,” agreed Salah. “I think I got that advice from Arsene Wenger in the past. I asked him the same question actually because he had great players in his career.
“He told me: ‘The great players, it does not matter how he performs in the game. He always stays focused and waits for the moment. He’s always in the game. And I put that into consideration a few years ago.
“Players’ emotions go up and down, [but] I don’t want my emotions to be like this. I just try to be stable and understand that not every game you’re going to have your best game. If you stay focussed, maybe you will have one chance.”
Salah added that he tends not to engage in trash-talking but is confident in his ability to make opportunities count.
“If some of them [opposing defenders], try to trash talk, I don’t like to engage. I tell them: ‘I don’t need much, I just need one chance, just one chance, and you will pay for it’.”
He has scored 30 goals and registered 21 assists across all competitions so far this season, and the 32-year-old believes he is enjoying his best campaign since arriving at Anfield in 2017.
Salah added that his contribution to improving those around him has been as important as his haul of goals.
“I think it is my best season,” Salah added. “I think this is my best season because I make the players around me better as well; that is what I feel.
“I know their games. If you look at all the numbers around all the players, it is going to be higher than the other seasons. Plus my assists are higher, so that means I really help them a lot.
“Cody [Gakpo], Lucho [Luis Diaz], other players, their season is the best [in their careers] – so, I think this is my best season because I make the players around me also better’.”
Salah’s performances have fired him into contention to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
However, he insists he is more focused on winning the Premier League and UEFA Champions League than any individual honours.
“Let’s win the Premier League and the Champions League, and we will see,” he added. “The Ballon d’Or, everybody knows sometimes there is [other] stuff involved there.
“I just want to win the [Premier League and Champions League]. Hopefully.”
