Egypt coach denies Salah rift before World Cup match against New Zealand
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has dismissed rumors of a conflict with star player Mohamed Salah, praising his professionalism ahead of the crucial Group G game.
Egypt national team head coach Hossam Hassan on Sunday denied any unrest involving talisman Mohamed Salah, insisting the squad is united as they prepare to face New Zealand in a crucial World Cup Group G match at BC Place, Vancouver.
“Salah is an important player for our squad, and the 26 players who are here with me are very important,” Hassan told reporters. “Every player who has worked with me knows I deal with them in a professional manner. I do not have favourites.”
Salah, 34, scored nine goals in the qualifying campaign and provided an assist for Emam Ashour in their opener against Belgium. He was substituted in the 76th minute of that 1-1 draw in Seattle, with highly-rated teenager Hamza Abdelkarim coming on.
New Zealand also began their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Iran in Los Angeles, leaving the group finely poised ahead of Sunday’s encounter.
Hassan insisted all was well within the Egyptian camp. “Salah is a great player who helps his teammates. He has a lot of discipline and is a role model,” he said. “If he starts … or if he gets substituted, it’s fine. It is his role as a player. Everyone knows that I am working for the benefit of the team and the national side.”
“Rumours are being spread about stars, about players, about teams. But Salah is someone who is very disciplined,” he added. “He trains with us. He’s the first player that would also say yes to my decisions as a technical director. So I think he will be very positive tomorrow.”
Both Egypt and New Zealand are seeking their first-ever World Cup win to boost knockout-stage hopes. Egypt is appearing in its fourth finals. “We want to present something very positive,” Hassan said. “We want to show that we have talent, not as something new, but as something that the African national squads have always had as a tradition throughout generations of footballers in Africa, for us and for international football.” He added that the team represents the Egyptian people, Egyptian football, and African football.
