Revenge is Real for Salah

The bitter memory of his injury during Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat in 2018 is motivating the Egyptian ahead of tomorrow’s rematch in Paris.

The last time Liverpool played Real Madrid in Paris an unlikely hero stepped up in Alan Kennedy, who charged forward from left back and scored the only goal.

Memories of that European Cup final in 1981 were outlined to Mohamed Salah this week, culminating in a question about who might emerge as a surprise match-winner in tomorrow’s meeting in the French capital 41 years later.

‘‘Hopefully me,’’ said Salah in response, casting aside the possibility of any shock element. The Egyptian striker is clearly in no mood for romance. Not when it is revenge that he truly wants.

It was a two-word answer that revealed plenty about his state of mind, underlining his insatiable appetite to be the one who shines on the biggest stage.

Salah’s desire to have the chance to punish Real is borne out of Liverpool’s last meeting in a Champions League final with the Spanish side in 2018.

Back then, he fell foul of Sergio Ramos in the first half. The Real defender’s challenge left Salah with a shoulder injury and he was inconsolable as he trudged off the pitch. Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat would be digested by their talisman while he was in a Kyiv hospital.

‘‘I remember when I went out after 30 minutes or something it was the worst moment of my career,’’ Salah said. ‘‘I was really,

really down after that.

‘‘I had had a good season, but playing in the Champions League final and coming off after 30 minutes was the worst thing that could happen to any player. After the game I knew the result because I was in the hospital. I was like, ‘we cannot lose the game in that way’.

‘‘I never had that feeling before in football, especially because it was the first Champions League final for most of us.

‘‘We were very disappointed but after that summer we came back and talked to each other. Hendo [Jordan Henderson] and Milly [James Milner] talked in the dressing room if I remember right and said, ‘we go again – for everything’.

‘‘We managed to win it the year after [against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid] so that was a kind of revenge in a way. We managed it in the best way possible.’’

Salah has done little to hide his desire to redress events in the

Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Ukraine four years ago.

On the night that Liverpool beat Villarreal to seal their passage into the final, the 29-year-old had stated his preference to meet Carlo Ancelotti’s Real side rather than Manchester City, who were playing in the other semifinal the following evening.

When Real progressed, he publicly vowed to settle a score and the sentiment behind those comments, Henderson suggested, had surprised the Liverpool dressing room.

It is a feeling that has only been strengthened by the failure of the quadruple bid with Liverpool having been pipped by a point to the Premier League title by Manchester City.

‘‘I am very motivated,’’ Salah said. ‘‘After what happened with Madrid last time and also after what happened on Sunday. Everyone is motivated to win the Champions League.

‘‘This is an unbelievable trophy for us and every season we have fought for it since I have been here.’’

Salah has scored a remarkable 34 times in 58 Champions League appearances for Liverpool and has scored 31 goals this season, 23 in the Premier League to share the Golden Boot with Son Heungmin, of Spurs. Only once, in his first season at Anfield, has he scored more in a single campaign – 44 goals in 2017-18.

Yet he goes into the final having scored only four goals in his past 19 matches for Jurgen

Klopp’s side, a period which coincided with Egypt’s failure to reach the World Cup finals.

Egypt lost on penalties to Senegal in a qualifying match in March – just as they had in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February – with Salah missing his spot kick as the home fans sought to distract him by shining lasers in his face.

He dealt with those bitter disappointments in the only way he knows.

‘‘I was really disappointed after what happened with the national team,’’ he said. ‘‘Then I just came back to England, I think the day after it I was training. I didn’t want to think about it and just wanted to play in the Watford game.

‘‘At that time I thought, ‘there are three or four other trophies you can win. Just go for them’. ‘‘And I gave it my best.

‘‘In my mind I am just realistic and trying to think positive all the time. After Egypt, I thought, ‘we have the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, Champions League, Premier League’.

‘‘There is nothing else you can do, so you try and do your best for the team. I think as a team we are doing good. I am having a good season, a very good one, actually. I just try to help the team win games. That is the most important thing for me.’’

And while that is true, Salah hopes he is the one who reduces Real to tears on this occasion.

‘‘It was the worst moment of my career. I was really, really down after that.’’ Mohamed Salah on the injury he suffered in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid