Chelsea’s Mohamed Salah (right) shoots past Sporting’s Andre Carrillo during the Champions League Group G soccer match between Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon at Stamford Bridge in London, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 (Photo: AP)
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho rubbished reports suggesting that Mohamed Salah will be offloaded in the January transfer window, insisting that the Egyptian forward remains part of his plans.
Salah has struggled for regular football since joining the English Premier League side from Swiss side Basel last January, with an array of attacking talents at Mourinho’s disposal making life difficult for him.
The 22-year-old was also criticised for being profligate but Mourinho is keeping faith with the pacy forward, who turned down an offer from Liverpool to link up with the Portuguese at the Blues.
“Salah is our player, he is a player we like and a player we trust. He is a player in our squad and he is going nowhere,” the former Real Madrid boss said on Friday when asked by Ahram Online about Salah's future during a news conference previewing Chelsea’s Premier League game against Hull City.
Saah has played six games in all competitions so far this season but has failed to find the net.
Salah made a rare Champions League start when Chelsea defeated Sporting Lisbon 3-1 in their final group-stage game on Wednesday.
During the conference, Mourinho praised Salah for his performance against the Portugese team. “He doesn’t go for sure. Maybe he moves house, but not club!” he added.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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