Valverde: Mo Salah ‘disrespected Real Madrid badge’ by saying he wanted Champions League revenge
Mohamed Salah has ‘disrespected the Real Madrid badge and the players’ by saying he wanted revenge on them for 2018 Champions League final defeat, insists Federico Valverde, as he ramps up tensions ahead of Saturday’s showpiece in Paris
- Federico Valverde has claimed Mohamed Salah has ‘disrespected’ Real Madrid
- Liverpool’s Salah said he would rather face Real in the Champions League final
- The Reds star was injured as his side lost the 2018 final against the Spanish side
- And the Egyptian forward openly stated revenge for that match was on his mind
- But Uruguayan Valverde has insisted his comments will serve as extra motivation
Federico Valverde has ratcheted up the tension ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League final this weekend, claiming Mohamed Salah ‘disrespected’ the Spanish side.
Salah’s Liverpool face Los Blancos in the European showpiece at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.
After beating Villarreal in the semi-final, the Egyptian had said he would rather play Real than their last-four opponents Manchester City in the final because he wanted to avenge their final defeat against the same opponents in 2018.
Salah told BT Sport in May: ‘I want to play Madrid, I have to be honest. City are a really tough team, we played against them a few times this season, but I think if you ask me personally, I would prefer Madrid.
‘Because we lost in the final against them, I want to play against them, and hopefully win against them.’
But Valverde told Marca that the forward’s comments were disrespectful to the club’s badge and its players, and insisted they would serve as extra motivation for the final.
Federico Valverde has ramped up the tension before Real Madrid’s Champions League final
Valverde claimed Liverpool star Mohamed Salah’s comments ‘disrespected’ the Spanish side
He said: ‘Obviously they’re words that everyone can take however they want. I’m his opponent and it’s like disrespecting the Real Madrid badge, the players…
‘The only thing we must do is give our best, try to show why we’re in the final and let’s hope we can give another trophy to the fans and to Real Madrid.’
The Uruguayan also hailed his side’s supporters for helping to inspire the Champions League comebacks against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Salah had said he would rather play Real in the final than Manchester City so is side could avenge their Champions League final defeat in 2018 against the same opponents (pictured)
He added: ‘The first thing to do is thank the fans, because when the game seems lost, when you can’t find spaces, the team isn’t feeling good, the fans are always there to support us. That gives us a plus, an energy that you can’t explain. The game isn’t over until the referee says so.
‘The biggest one was against City. It’s very difficult to go through again when you’re losing in the 89th minute, you blink and you’re winning. They’re things that don’t happen often in life.
‘I don’t know if it’s fear (that opponents feel), or the pressure that the stadium and the fans generate. They know they’re playing Real Madrid and they’re capable of doing anything, and you can see that. When the coaching staff, the team and the fans feel that, it’s like the Bermuda Triangle.’
