Arne Slot agreed with Mohamed Salah’s assertion that this year is the Egyptian’s best chance yet of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Salah is among the favorites to claim soccer’s most prestigious individual award as a result of his exploits for Liverpool this season, but he is not alone in having a remarkable campaign.
At the start of the year, Salah looked to be a shoo-in to claim the Ballon d’Or, but Liverpool‘s Champions League exit at the last-16 stage dealt a major blow to his chances, while the Reds also lost in the Carabao Cup final a few days after the European loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG’s march to the Champions League final has seen Ousmane Dembele installed as the favorite to win the award, while Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is also now firmly ahead of Salah in the betting.
Speaking to Sky Sports, though, Salah rated his chances highly. “I would say I never had a season like this and winning big trophies so I would say this is my best chance to get it right now while I’m in the club because it’s been a crazy year, a crazy season with a trophy,” Salah said. “It’s given me a good chance.”
Slot agreed with Salah but admitted that his star player is facing stiff competition to claim the gong. “It is completely true [that this is Salah’s best chance],” Slot said. “He has had very, very good seasons at Liverpool but this one probably stands out in terms of numbers.
(Image: PA Wire)
“And if you add that we also won the league it would probably give him a fair chance. But, fortunately for all the football fans around the world, he is not the only player around the world who has had a great season.
“We were able to to watch many great players again. If there was ever a chance for him, it would be this season. But if not, he will push even harder next season, that’s what I already know with him.”
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Asked whether it would be possible for Salah to improve next season, Slot said: “In terms of individual performance, that would be hardly impossible, although never say that something is impossible for Mo, because he’s proven that he can always raise his game even further.
“That is the elite mentality that top players should have, to never be satisfied with where you are. That’s the mentality he has. In terms of us as a team, we can do better. We have played for four trophies, and only — only — won one.”
