Liverpool star Mohamed Salah wanted to prove Chelsea wrong for selling him
Friday 11 May 2018 10:16, UK
Mohamed Salah has revealed he was always determined to return to the Premier League to prove Chelsea were wrong to sell him.
The Egyptian star has enjoyed a sensational debut season for Liverpool, scoring 42 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions.
Salah picked up the Football Writers' player of the year award on Wednesday to add to the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award he picked up last month.
The £39.5m Liverpool paid to sign the 25-year-old from Roma last summer now looks like a bargain and Salah admits he came back to England with a point to prove after being deemed surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho and Chelsea in 2015.
"To be honest, it was always in my mind when I left Chelsea," Salah said.
"I said many times, it was always in my mind to come back because a lot of people said 'he cannot succeed here [in England] and he is not good enough for the Premier League'.
"So it was always in my mind to come back. I had two great seasons in Rome and everyone was telling me 'no, don't come back' but it was always in my mind that I have to come back to prove them wrong."
Liverpool need a point in their final Premier League game of the season against Brighton at Anfield on Sunday to ensure they will finish fourth ahead of Chelsea.
After that, their focus will shift to the Champions League final against holders Real Madrid in Kiev on May 26.
Real, who have won the competition in three of the last four seasons, go into the game as favourites but Salah insists Liverpool are quietly confident.
When asked if Liverpool can win, Salah replied: "Of course we can.
"We played in the semi-finals and quarter-finals against Roma and Manchester City. Both teams are very good. They have special quality and they have been outstanding this year.
"But it is only one game. It is not long. It is just one step so we have to keep fighting and I am excited. Everyone in the city is excited about so let's see."
