Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has lavished praise on captain Mohamed Salah, claiming the forward is training with the boundless energy of a teenager as he prepares for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Salah's Morale 'Very High' Despite Club Controversy
The build-up to the tournament for Egypt has been somewhat overshadowed by Salah's explosive comments about his club side Liverpool and new head coach Arne Slot a fortnight ago, for which he later apologised. However, speaking from the team's base in sun-kissed Agadir, at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, Hassan insisted the incident is behind them.
"Salah's morale in training is very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team!" Hassan revealed ahead of Egypt's AFCON opener against Zimbabwe. "I believe he will have a great tournament with his country."
Manager Plays Down 'Crisis' After Liverpool Comments
Quizzed directly about the fallout from Salah's club comments, the Egypt boss was keen to downplay the severity of the situation. He emphasised the constant communication maintained with his star player.
"There was constant communication with Mohamed during what I don't want to call a crisis because any player can have a difference of opinion with his coach at his club," Hassan stated. He drew parallels with a previous dip in form, suggesting the national team has often been a catalyst for Salah's resurgence.
"The same situation happened with Salah when he went through a period of not scoring goals with Liverpool," Hassan added. "Then he returned to the right path through the national team, and as a result, he came back at an even better level than before."
Salah Aiming to End AFCON Heartbreak
Now 33, this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations could be Salah's final chance to lift the trophy with his country. Egypt are considered second favourites behind hosts Morocco, with Salah and Manchester City's Omar Marmoush leading their attack.
Despite Egypt's historic dominance, winning three consecutive titles between 2006 and 2010, the so-called 'Salah era' has yet to yield the ultimate prize. The captain has suffered the agony of finishing as a runner-up twice, in 2017 and 2021.
Hassan, however, has no doubts about his captain's enduring quality and motivation. "Salah will be among the best players at the tournament, and he will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world," he declared confidently.
