With Egypt having announced their new manager, here is what the newly appointed boss said about Mohamed Salah after the Pharaohs' captain left the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations mid-tournament to return to Liverpool.
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On Tuesday, the Egyptian Football Association confirmed it had appointed the country's all-time leading goalscorer, Hossam Hassan, to succeed Rui Vitoria.
The Portuguese tactician was unable to inspire the north African giants in the Ivory Coast after they crashed out of the competition following a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo, who play the host nation in a semi-final match on Wednesday.
According to talkSPORT, Hassan scored 69 goals for Egypt between 1985 and 2006, with Salah currently 15 strikes behind the legendary forward.
There are concerns as to what the Liverpool winger's relationship with Hassan is and will be like on the international stage after the 57-year-old publicly criticised the player's decision to return to England to recover from a hamstring injury while the African giants' tournament was still ongoing.
The publication reports that he said: "If Salah feels he wants to travel, he should travel and not return to the national team again because the injury is not severe; he needs physiotherapy which is available with the national team.
"A hamstring injury does not require extensive facilities in Liverpool. Big clubs always send doctors and physical therapists with top players to these tournaments, and in Liverpool, they know if Salah needs something, they will send doctors to him.
"Salah, with his great value, should continue with the national team both morally and psychologically. It affects other teams that he can participate at any time, but his departure will affect Egypt negatively and the opponents positively."
Continuing, the iconic player even provided insight into how he would have dealt with the situation.
"If I was the Egypt manager and he told me his desire to travel to Liverpool, I would tell him to continue there, and we have capable men in the national team," he said.
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"Salah is one of the best individuals who have achieved accomplishments for Egypt globally, but the national team is a red line for anyone. Even if you are injured and cannot play, you have a significant role from both a technical and moral perspective."
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