Former Egyptian coach Bob Bradley has revealed the piece of advice he believes has helped improve the game played by Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah and has raised him to a world-class level claims Goal.
The former coach of the USMNT told the Liverpool star to do his best to imitate the great Barcelona player, Lionel Messi.
Between 2011 and 2013, the 62-year-old took over Egypt, during which time Salah was a young star breaking into the team, still playing domestically at Al Mokawloon.
He moved with Basel from there to Switzerland, before spells with Chelsea, Fiorentina and Roma.
After moving to Liverpool in 2017, the 27-year-old has always caught the eye of clubs, while scored 70 goals in 100 games in the Premier League, helping the club reach the 2019 Champions League, and bringing them to the verge of a first domestic league title in a decade.
Bradley claims that asking Salah to mimic Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, a six-time Ballon d’Or winner, was the key to much of his subsequent success while he was still improving his game.
“Salah improved a lot since I left the Egyptian NT, he is a great player,” the American told Egyptian TV channel Sada El Balad. “I told him to watch Messi closely, so he can improve his performance and he took my advice.
He said, “Back then I tried to change his position to play deep as a striker because he has the speed. He Is now one of the best players in the world.”
Salah has contributed 16 goals and six assists in 26 league appearances this season, while he finished in the Champions League with four goals and two decisive passes, a competition in which Liverpool’s defence was put to a premature end as they lost out to Atletico Madrid at home after extra time.
After an unscheduled break in the season due to the coronavirus pandemic, Salah and his Liverpool teammates are preparing to return to action in mid-June.
Jurgen Klopp’s side only needs six points to secure a first crown of the Premier League era with their challenge starting again on June 21 against Stanley Park rivals Everton.
They go to Manchester City in a showdown between the top two after hosting Crystal Palace three days later with the Reds already hoping to lift the lead by that point.
