Press conferenceMohamed Salah on his LFC future, Real Madrid and motivations
Mohamed Salah today discussed his future with Liverpool but insisted his focus is currently fully on this weekend's Champions League final against Real Madrid.
The Reds travel to Paris in search of a seventh European Cup on Saturday night, in a repeat meeting of the 2018 showpiece.
Salah is determined to help Jürgen Klopp’s side overcome Los Blancos on this occasion, having been injured in the first half during defeat in Kyiv four years ago.
See a summary of what the No.11 had to say to journalists during a press conference at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the final…
On the motivation to beat Real this time around...
I’m very motivated, motivated through the roof. I think after what happened with Madrid last time, and also what happened on Sunday [in the Premier League], everybody is motivated to win the Champions League, because this is, like, [an] unbelievable trophy for us. I think every season we fight for it since I came here, I think everybody is excited for it.
On his future with the club...
In my mind I don’t focus about the contract at the moment. I don’t want to be selfish at all. I even said that, like, two or one months ago. It’s about the team now, it’s a really important week for us, I can say. I’m just focused on the team. I want to win the Champions League again. I want to see Hendo having the trophy again in his hands and hopefully give it to me after! I’m just focused with the team really; I don’t want to talk about the contract now. We have a long time... I’m staying next season for sure. That’s clear. I’m staying next season, let’s see after that.
On his memories from the last final against Real and getting injured...
I remember when I went out after 30 minutes or something. That was the worst moment in my career. I was really, really down in that time, because playing the Champions League... I had a good season that time and just playing the Champions League [final], coming off after 30 minutes, it’s the worst thing that could happen to any football player. After the game I knew the result, because I was in the hospital, I knew the result from Hendo.
I was like: ‘We cannot lose this way.’ I never felt that feeling before in football, especially the first Champions League [final] for all of us - well, most of us. So, we lost it, we were very, very disappointed, but I think after that summer we came back, we talked to each other. [I] think Hendo and Millie talked in the dressing room, if I remember right, and they say we go again for everything and we managed to win it the year after, so that was also kind of revenge, in a way, but I think we managed in the best way possible.
Road to Paris: How the Reds reached the final
On his disappointments with Egypt this season and if they have made him stronger...
I didn’t have time, really, to think much about that. I was really disappointed after what happened with the national team. Then I just came back to England, I think a day after I was in training just [to] carry on [to] go [and] play the Watford game. I didn’t want to think about it. I just wanted to... I felt in that time there was three or four other trophies you can win, just go for them and I give it a try. I gave my best. Until Sunday, we were close to winning three but we were unlucky. City [are] also a good team. They did great against Villa and won the game. In my mind, I’m just realistic a little bit. I’m trying to think positive all the time and I felt after Egypt we have Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Champions League, Premier League with the team - nothing else you can do, so just try to give your best for the team.
On how impressed he has been with Luis Diaz...
I think he is a great player, he made a huge difference [in] our games, especially Benfica away, Villarreal away. He is doing good. We have a lot of players who speak Spanish and Portuguese as well. He’s a very important player and I think he is doing good.