Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, has recounted a striking anecdote about how José Mourinho once brought Mohamed Salah to tears during their time together at Chelsea.
Before rising to global stardom at Liverpool, Salah endured a challenging period at Chelsea after transferring from Basel in 2014.
On The Peter Crouch Podcast, Mikel shared a memory of an emotional moment during a game against Norwich City, where Mourinho’s fierce half-time critique of Salah left the Egyptian winger visibly weeping.
“Fantastic guy, amazing. Not just as a coach, but a human being as well. He’s someone you can speak to, someone you can connect with,” Mikel said. “But he obviously has his ways of trying to get the best out of players.
“Did he cross the line sometimes? Of course he did — especially with younger players. That was just his era, his method.”
He continued: “He did that with Mo Salah — he had a go at him in the dressing room and Salah started crying. Then he took him off. Sometimes, you shout at a player and let them go back in to fix the mistake, but he doesn’t. He tells you, ‘You’re not going back in.’ It’s a double whammy, isn’t it?”
Salah later revitalized his career with standout performances at Fiorentina and Roma before becoming a pivotal player at Liverpool, where he has since solidified his status as one of the world’s premier forwards.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
