In the high-stakes world of modern football, even words are currency. And Mohamed Salah‘s latest comments to L’Équipe may prove more valuable than most.
Just two months after Paris Saint-Germain knocked his Liverpool side out of the Champions League on penalties, Salah has admired the French club, calling them “the best team in Europe” and urging them to “go win it.” The timing and the messenger have set tongues wagging.
Mohamed Salah backs PSG before their Arsenal clash
“It was their day and I shook the players’ hands afterward, I said to them: ‘Congratulations, go win it!’ and that was it,” Salah told the French outlet.
Salah’s embrace of PSG comes with layers of intrigue. The Egyptian star, who has scored 33 goals this season, has not always been so publicly effusive about his opponents. His candor may be rooted in sportsmanship. But speaking to the French press—particularly L’Équipe, which shares ownership ties with France Football, the publication behind the Ballon d’Or—has prompted speculation that more is at play.
After all, Salah is firmly in the running for football’s highest individual honor this year. And with PSG now one step from the final, set to host Arsenal at the Parc des Princes holding a 1-0 first-leg advantage, Salah’s glowing words carry weight.
“PSG had a very good first leg. We were so lucky. Alisson had the best game of his career at Liverpool. They were very unlucky. Then they came to Anfield. And we were the ones who were unlucky because we hit the post two or three times,” he said.
“In this match, everything was 50/50. Who deserved to qualify more? No one could say. We had a very good second leg, they had a very good first leg.”
Some fans see strategic brilliance in his approach. It was a savvy play to shift the narrative around the Reds UCL exit and attach his name to the tournament’s rising favorite.
If PSG do go on to lift their first Champions League trophy, Salah’s generous post-match message could look like a PR masterstroke. It’s also a notable shift in tone, considering the rivalry and history that define continental competition.
What is clear is that PSG, guided by Luis Enrique and powered by Ousmane Dembélé’s resurgence, has Salah’s vote of confidence. Whether that endorsement proves prophetic—or merely political—will be decided on the pitch.
