Mohamed Salah on the Mentality Shift That Transformed His Career | OneFootball

Mo Salah: From Chelsea Misfire to Liverpool Greatness, A Story of Relentless Growth

Struggles at Chelsea Sparked a Turning Point

It’s easy to forget, amidst the avalanche of goals, that Mohamed Salah’s first experience of English football left more bruises than glory. In the Premier League’s new feature ‘Premier League Stories‘, the Egyptian forward reflects not on titles or accolades first, but on challenge and failure. His words offer rare insight into the making of a modern great.

“I remember the first game I played, I think it was Newcastle and I was attacking the [flank] and felt, boom [a strong tackle],” Salah recalls. “I felt like, ‘Oh, how am I going to survive here?’”

His time at Chelsea didn’t yield the success many expected. It instead delivered something greater – a lesson in resilience. Salah admitted, “I still also say this is the most important period of my life, when I went to Chelsea. Because when I started to struggle there I was like, ‘OK, so now what? Are you going to be an average player or do you want to be a really good player?’”

That internal conversation laid the foundation for what would follow.

Photo: IMAGO

Rebuilding in Italy Forged a New Mindset

It was in Italy, first at Fiorentina and then Roma, where Salah rebuilt his career with striking precision. The move away from England was not retreat but renewal.

“It was a key point for me,” Salah reflects. “I started to read a lot and watching a lot of videos on YouTube to help me also change how I behave, how my mentality [is] and everything.”

These weren’t empty words. It was a holistic transformation – body, mind, and soul. Physical conditioning, tactical intelligence, and mental strength became the cornerstones of his game. It was here that Salah transformed from a raw winger to a decisive force of nature.

Legendary Status at Liverpool Now Sealed

Since returning to England in 2017 with Liverpool, Salah has redefined what it means to be a forward in the modern game. Now a two-time Premier League champion, he’s amassed 244 goals in all competitions, 183 of those in the league – more than any Liverpool player in Premier League history.

In 2024-25, he led Liverpool to another league title, contributing 28 goals and 18 assists. Few players in world football can match those numbers. Fewer still do so with Salah’s consistency and class.

Photo: IMAGO

He’s already won three Golden Boots and a Playmaker award. If he maintains current form, he may yet add more silverware to a collection few imagined after his Chelsea exit.

“It’s hard to explain how it feels to play alongside him. It’s unbelievable,” said teammate Dominik Szoboszlai in the documentary. “He doesn’t follow the records, the records follow him – because every week he has set another record.”

Legacy Etched in Premier League History

Salah is now only three goals away from fourth on the Premier League’s all-time scorers list – a remarkable feat considering where his journey began. But for all the statistical marvels, it’s the story behind them that resonates. A player who could’ve faded into anonymity chose instead to evolve, to learn, and to fight his way into the elite.

This new LFC feature captures the spirit of that story. It isn’t just about goals. It’s about belief. About defiance. About never settling.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

As Liverpool fans, we don’t need a reminder of Mo Salah’s brilliance – we see it every week. But this documentary hits differently. It’s not just the numbers or the trophies. It’s the way he talks about the struggle, the way he turned adversity into strength.

That quote about Chelsea – “Are you going to be an average player or do you want to be a really good player?” – that says everything. This is a man who decided that failure wouldn’t define him. Instead, he used it to build something bigger.

And what a legacy he’s building. To see him lead us to another title under Arne Slot this season, still delivering world-class output, shows his hunger hasn’t faded. Szoboszlai nailed it: “He doesn’t follow the records, the records follow him.”

With three goals separating him from fourth in Premier League history, the milestones will keep falling. But it’s the humility and mindset that truly set him apart. Long may it continue – because when Salah’s gone, we won’t see another quite like him.