The fallout from Liverpool’s recent slump and the ensuing comments by Mohamed Salah following the match against Leeds United have drawn sharp criticism, most notably from the man who shares his elite status in Premier League history: Thierry Henry.
Sharing an honour held by only five players—those who have won the Premier League Player of the Year award twice (alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin De Bruyne, and Nemanja Vidic)—Henry speaks from a position of authority and experience.
His critique focuses less on Salah’s frustration and more on the manner in which he chose to express it, particularly amid reports the Egyptian star felt “thrown under the bus” after poor team performances.
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) December 9, 2025
Henry, recalling his own experiences under legendary managers, delivered a stinging assessment of Salah’s decision to air his grievances publicly, especially following a run of being benched for three consecutive games and being omitted from the squad entirely for the Champions League tie against Inter Milan.
“I had my issues with [Arsène] Wenger, and later with [Pep] Guardiola… but have you ever heard me talk about it publicly? Never. My first job was always to protect the club.”
“When you are a player for a club of this stature, you must protect it at all costs. It doesn’t matter what is happening internally—you protect the club, your teammates, the manager, and the staff.”
The former Arsenal talisman emphasised that a player’s personal feelings should never supersede the team’s stability, especially during times of difficulty for the club.
“You can be angry, you can be frustrated, and you can certainly disagree with decisions… but you simply do not air dirty laundry in public, particularly when the club is going through a difficult spell.”
“Instead, you wait. You sort things out behind closed doors internally. Only then, if you want to leave or speak your mind, do you choose the right, controlled moment.”
Acknowledging the immense pressure and the individual achievement that fuels a world-class player, Henry concluded by addressing the fundamental conflict between ego and the collective good.
“I can understand the ego, and I understand Mo’s frustration. He scores 38 goals [in a season] and ends up on the bench—that’s tough to take. But there comes a point where you absolutely must put the team before yourself.”
