WE’LL GET IN HIS FACE
Football is a contact sport, Mo warned
RUSSIA coach Stanislav Cherchesov last night sent a chilling warning to Mo Salah that he has hatched a plan to end the Egyptian’s World Cup.
Liverpool’s brilliant 44-goal forward is set to return from the shoulder injury suffered in the Champions League final for his nation’s must-win game against the tournament hosts in St Petersburg today.
And after launching a staunch defence of Real Madrid hard-man Sergio Ramos for the role he played in crocking Salah, Cherchesov (above) promised Russia have also come up with a way to halt Egypt’s talisman.
Asked if that will include the kind of brutality that reduced Salah to tears in Kiev, Cherchesov said: “Is someone going to behave how Ramos behaved? I don’t understand the question. What has Ramos got to do with it?
“I don’t think Ramos did it on purpose. Football is a contact sport. As I understand it, nobody injures players from other teams on purpose.
“The last time I saw Ramos he was holding the Champions League cup. Tomorrow there will be no cup.
“Teams must run fast, play fast and use whatever tactics to counter whatever team they are playing – and my team is no exception.
“Let me make it simple. I believe in my team, I believe in my players and we are ready to do this – and we will do this.
“We have our own mission – and we will achieve that mission.”
Russia opened the tournament by thrashing Saudi Arabia 5-0, while Egypt crashed to a last-minute 1-0 defeat against Uruguay.
Salah will have a fitness test this morning, but coach Hector Cuper is confident his star man can handle whatever the Russians have lined up for him.
Cuper said: “Every coach has his own strategy and they prepare for matches according to their own philosophy.
“Mo Salah is just one player. I think it is great if Russia are only focusing on him. He’s a crucial player, a wonderful player. But I never prepare a team just to stop one player.
“Salah is fit – but we thought he was fit for the first game against Uruguay but he didn’t pass a test.
“We always do a physical test before we name the team and we will do the same this time. I hope he is fully fit to play. I am sure he will be. He’s an essential part of our team.”