Mo Salah issues clear stance on 'tough' Arne Slot as he reveals honest conversations

Mo Salah has sounded a ringing endorsement of Liverpool boss despite admitting to having had 'honest conversations' with the Dutchman. Slot replaced Reds legend in the Anfield hotseat last summer.

He had only coached in his native Netherlands before arriving on Merseyside, leading Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title in 2023 and the KNVB Cup a year later. Despite seeing no major signings arrive, the 46-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable debut season.

He led the Reds to the title, with his side securing top spot with four games to play. also reached the final of the Carabao Cup, where they were beaten by , but suffered a disappointing last 16 exit to Paris Saint-Germain.

Even so, it has been a successful season by any stretch of the definition. It is something that Salah has admitted he did not at first see coming in his first dealings with Slot following his arrival.

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"I felt he was quite tough," Salah told when asked for his first impression of Liverpool's new boss. If he wants something he keeps asking you straight away.

"It was quite tricky in the beginning but after that you get used to him and how he talks to you and what he wants from you and things become easier."

Salah pinpointed a lacklustre pre-season training session as the point Slot convinced his new squad that he was the perfect man to replace Klopp. The Egyptian insisted he had an 'honest conversation' with the Dutchman that led to a change in mentality.

"He showed me a few videos of myself in the warm-up. Players were in national teams and I wasn't so I came early with the younger players, started the pre-season earlier and I did a warm-up. I was like quite slow, didn't do much," Salah added.

"Then he showed me, 'look at the second [player] after he sees you take it easy, look at the third one'. Then you see the whole line walking like me and he said, 'that's your influence on the team'.

"We had a few honest conversations between us. He was very honest, showed me a few clips of mine and said, 'with this Mo, we can win everything. With this Mo we can't win much. I want to get the best out of you, I want this one to be available the whole season and your best year to come with me.'

"I said, 'okay, let me know what you want from me and I will do it because I'm very professional'. He didn't challenge me, he was very respectful and I told him he was a very respectful person.

"He treated me different. He was showing me what he wanted from me. [Slot said:] 'If you want to add something, change something, be open with me' and that was great. I just felt, new manager coming, give you space and appreciation.

"Let me talk to him all the time [about] what I want to improve, what I want the team to do for me, what I want to do for the team. I think that's what I needed. He showed 'you are different, you are superstar here' - I probably felt that's what I needed at the time."

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