NUCLEAR MO
Jose: I had Salah as a frail boy... now he’s a strong man PROBABLE TEAMS TODAY, KO 4PM
LIVERPOOL v MAN UNITED
And the Manchester United boss has saluted the Egyptian ace’s “amazing” development – from the frail youngster Mourinho signed for Chelsea, to a headline act capable of shredding any defence in the world.
Salah was named BBC African Footballer of the Year for the second year running last week and Mourinho admits that stopping him will be his major worry as United head to Anfield today.
Mourinho said: “I think he has developed incredibly well at every level since Chelsea.
“Physically, it’s an amazing development. He was a fast, fragile boy – and now he is a fast, strong man.
“He had not adapted psychologically coming from a small club in Switzerland to a big club in England, and the Premier League, when he signed for Chelsea.
“I remember I played him at White Hart Lane against Tottenham and at the Etihad against Manchester City and it was too much for him. Now he plays everywhere, against any team.
“He can go to Barcelona, he can go to Madrid... he plays like, ‘I am Mo Salah and I am afraid of nobody’.
“Now, after his experience in Italy and coming back to the Premier League, he is a fantastic player, a completely different one to the ‘potential player’ we brought from Basel to Chelsea.
“He was a project player then, now he is one of the best in the world.
“So I don’t think the fact I knew him helps me.
“But every match we try to analyse opponents, the strengths and weaknesses. Liverpool have many strengths, but of course he is nuclear in strength.
“So, do we speak and think about him? Yes, and think of the best way to cope with a fantastic player, like he is.”
Despite success against Salah last season – in a 0-0 at Anfield and 2-1 win at Old Trafford – Mourinho doesn’t believe his side have got the Egyptian’s number.
The United boss said: “Those were different matches. They had Philippe Coutinho then, playing as a fake left-sided player. “He was always coming inside to play
between the lines. A completely different dynamic then.
“Now Salah sometimes plays from the right. Other times he plays as the striker, with Roberto Firmino dropping behind him. They have so many possibilities to get the best out of him.
“We have to try to give him at least a difficult match... and play our own game as well.”
And although his stars can sometimes appear incapable of following his orders, Mourinho insisted: “I’m not frustrated. I demand that the players give everything.
“That is my job. It’s not about me complaining or moaning.”