Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, has downplayed the impact of Mohamed Salah’s current situation at the club, insisting that the players remain focused and committed to winning matches.
Naija News reports that Van Dijk spoke after helping the Reds secure a narrow 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
Reacting to Salah’s absence following his recent explosive interview, Van Dijk described the situation as “difficult” but said it has not distracted the team from its goals.
“It’s difficult but it’s a collective difficult situation that we’re all in,” he told reporters.
“Between Mo and the club, things are going on and he’s not here today, that’s the reality. I don’t think anything has changed in terms of our focus and determination.”
Naija News reports that Mohamed Salah, widely regarded as one of Liverpool’s all-time greats, was left out of the squad by head coach Arne Slot following a public outburst over the weekend.
In the interview, Salah accused the club of mistreating him despite his years of sacrifice, and revealed that his relationship with Slot had deteriorated significantly.
Van Dijk, however, maintained that the team is blocking out external distractions and concentrating on building consistency.
“It’s a good feeling of winning. Especially in a period we are in, trying to find consistency and something to build on,” he said.
“It doesn’t change anything. There’s obviously so much noise from the outside world, which is normal when you don’t perform.”
Liverpool are scheduled to face Brighton in their next Premier League fixture on Saturday, as the club looks to stabilise its form amid off-field tensions.
