Devastated Mohamed Salah Laments Liverpool’s Champions League Miss
Salah expresses disappointment as Liverpool falls short, vowing to bounce back stronger
Mohamed Salah, the prolific Liverpool forward, expressed his deep disappointment after the club failed to secure a spot in the upcoming season’s Champions League, stating that there were no excuses for their performance. Salah took to social media shortly after Manchester United’s victory over Chelsea confirmed Liverpool’s fifth-place finish, condemning their inability to qualify for the prestigious tournament. The Egyptian international, aged 30, admitted that they had let down both the fans and themselves.
Despite an impressive late surge, winning seven of their last eight games, Liverpool was unable to compensate for their inconsistent form earlier in the season. This strong finish was not enough to secure a top-four position, as Manchester United’s draw with Chelsea sealed their Champions League qualification alongside Manchester City, Arsenal, and Newcastle United.
Salah, who played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2018-19 and their subsequent loss in the final to Real Madrid, expressed his frustration at the missed opportunity. He emphasized that qualifying for the Champions League should be the bare minimum for a club like Liverpool. The disappointment was too fresh for Salah to find solace in optimism or uplifting messages.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are set to miss Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Southampton on Tuesday as Jürgen Klopp looks to protect their fitness before the Champions League final. #LFC
📰 Paul Joyce – The Times pic.twitter.com/DnVakaIbzX
— Mihu (@mihu_sg8) May 16, 2022
Liverpool’s campaign started promisingly with a victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield but soon faced challenges. In the Premier League, they struggled away from home, suffering defeats at the hands of relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, Wolves, and Bournemouth.
Their home form was also underwhelming, with only struggling Leeds United managing to defeat them. Furthermore, Liverpool had disappointing exits from the FA Cup and League Cup, being eliminated by Brighton and Manchester City.
Salah, who signed a lucrative three-year contract with Liverpool last summer, had an impressive goal tally this season. He scored 19 league goals, with six coming in the 14 games leading up to the 2022 World Cup and 13 in the 23 games following the tournament.
Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League will see them participating in the Europa League next season. The club, its players, and fans hope to regroup, learn from their mistakes, and mount a strong challenge in domestic and European competitions in the coming season.