Mohamed Salah has been sent a brutal message by Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal ahead of Saturday night's Champions League final.
Speaking after Liverpool's semi-final comeback victory against Villarreal earlier this month, when it was still unknown if his side would face the Spanish giants or Man City in the final, Salah said: "I want to play Madrid, I have to be honest. City is a really tough team, we played against them a few times this season. I think personally, I would prefer Madrid. We lost in the final to them so I want to play against them and hopefully win it."
Salah was told by former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann to "keep quiet" ahead of the game, with the former midfielder explaining that there was nothing to be gained from these comments and the Egyptian international being so public with his pleasure at Madrid’s progress through to the final. Salah came off injured in the 2018 decider between the two sides, which the Spanish giants won 3-1.
However, Salah doubled down on his claim as he tweeted "we have a score to settle" after Real Madrid's semi-final success and then explained: "If you ask everybody [at Liverpool ], everyone wanted that game. I don't know why we're not allowed to talk about it but I'm ok to talk about it - I wanted that game! I wanted to play Real Madrid before that game [against Manchester City].
"Of course, I'm not giving too much credit to them. They're an unbelievable team with a great coach, great players. When they asked me who I wanted, I said Madrid. It's an easy answer."
Responding to Salah’s comments, Madrid defender Carvajal has issued a brutal claim on Salah – claiming that he hoped it would not be an “important burden” for the Egyptian to be defeated by his side in the final for the second time.
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The right-back told Spanish media outlet ABC: “I don't know if Salah or Liverpool are in the mood for revenge. It is true that when you lose a Champions League final you always want to have a second chance against that same team in order to beat them.
“Let's hope it's not an important burden for Salah to lose a second Champions League final against Real Madrid.”
While Liverpool are set to enter this season’s showpiece event in Paris as favourites, there surely can be no side that wishes to face Real Madrid. Not only did they secure their 35th La Liga title with a rampant league success with four rounds of matches remaining – ensuring they have focused exclusively on the final for weeks – but their European exploits this campaign are ominous.
Having eliminated Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City – all in spectacular fashion with remarkable comebacks in each showing their huge reserves of self-belief and defiance – there can be no argument that they have not reached this final the hard way. No side is so remarkably self-assured of their own ability as Real Madrid – to the point where their comebacks and ultimate success becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
