Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said that Mohamed Salah was sent on loan to Fiorentina to be given playing time, just a day after the Egypt winger scored a goal for Viola in the Europa League.

Salah, who is currently on a six-month loan at Fiorentina from Chelsea, has been impressive for the Serie A side since joining in January, scoring three goals and dishing out an assist in just five appearances.

His latest contribution came in Fiorentina's 2-0 Europa League second-leg win over Tottenham, scoring his side's second to help them reach the competition's round of 16 following a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.  

''Salah went there to play, he's playing, he's getting his time on the pitch. That's what we care about,'' Mourinho said in a press conference on Friday.

The 22-year-old Salah had been struggling for playing time under Mourinho, managing just two goals since joining Chelsea from Basel in January 2014.

He failed to find the net for the English Premier League leaders this season, having made only three substitute appearances in the league before heading to Fiorentina. 

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