Arne Slot says Mohamed Salah can have a “far better chance” of profitable the Ballon d’Or if runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool win silverware this season.
Arne Slot opens up on Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or probabilities. (Motion Pictures by way of Reuters)
The Egyptian celebrity, 32, is favorite to win the award, thought to be the highest particular person prize in soccer, after a sensational marketing campaign to date.
Salah, who’s but to signal a brand new deal to maintain him at Anfield past the top of this season, has scored 30 targets and offered 21 assists in all competitions through the present marketing campaign.
However Liverpool supervisor Slot stated Tuesday that regardless of these stellar numbers, the membership must win main trophies to assist their ahead win his first Ballon d’Or.
“It’s a good thing that Mo is in the discussion because it means he does well and it means we are doing well,” the Dutchman stated on Tuesday.
“But for him to stay in that discussion, he should bring in the same performances as he’s done for seven or eight months now.
“And I believe, usually, somebody that wins the Ballon d’Or must win one thing as nicely, so it is an excellent problem that’s in entrance of us, but in addition in entrance of him.”
Liverpool, who host Newcastle on Wednesday, are 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with 11 games to go but Slot said he does not fear complacency.
“Everyone knows these gamers are so lengthy on this competitors, even for much longer than me, so that they know the way tough each single recreation is, and if you must play 11, it is nonetheless a protracted strategy to go,” he said.
Liverpool are also in the final of the League Cup, where they will face Newcastle again, and will meet Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Slot was asked at his pre-match press conference whether Salah’s current form could be compared with that of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at their peak but he shied away from direct comparisons.
“He (Salah) has had some excellent seasons right here at Liverpool, and we hope he can proceed this for an extended time frame, however to do this he first has to increase his contract in fact,” he said.
The Liverpool boss was also asked whether Salah’s red-hot form would make it easier or more difficult for the club to agree a new deal.
“You’ll be able to have a look at it in each methods,” he said. “You’ll be able to say the higher he does, the costlier he may change into, and if he would do actually worse, we’d have second ideas if we needed to increase his contract.
“So I think for everyone it’s the best that he brings in the performances he does now. Maybe only for the one that has to pay him it’s not the best, but for everyone else it’s the best.”