Less than a day after Arne Slot was confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach, he is already confronting a potential major challenge that could disrupt his pre-season preparations.
Liverpool has scheduled three friendly matches in the United States at the end of July and the beginning of August. This timing coincides with the Olympic Games, creating a potential conflict. The Egyptian national team, which is participating in the men’s football event in Paris, is keen to include Mo Salah in their squad. Their coach, Ruggero Micali, has openly expressed a strong desire for Salah to join the team for the Olympics.
While these pre-season matches may not be crucial for discovering new insights about Salah’s abilities, Slot is understandably hesitant to lose one of his key players right before the start of his first season in charge. Salah’s participation in the Olympics could lead to a repeat of past scenarios where he has been caught between club and country obligations. Previously, Salah has had to leave Liverpool mid-season to play in the Africa Cup of Nations, which resulted in injuries and missed games for the club.
There is a silver lining for Liverpool, however. The Olympics will conclude before the Premier League season begins, potentially minimizing the disruption to Liverpool’s plans. Despite this, Liverpool fans remain concerned about the possibility of Salah sustaining an injury in a tournament that isn’t central to the football calendar.
Adding to Liverpool’s advantage, the Olympics occur outside of an official FIFA window. This means that clubs are not obligated to release their players for the event. Liverpool could, therefore, choose to keep Salah with the team during their pre-season tour in the USA.
Ultimately, the decision may come down to Salah’s own preferences. Whether he will be in America or Paris towards the end of July will largely depend on what he prioritizes. Liverpool will be hoping that he decides to stay with the team in the USA, as his presence would be invaluable for their pre-season preparations under their new head coach.