Egypt coach Hossam Hassan denies conflict with Salah, calls him a role model

Published Jun 21, 12:32 AM UTC

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Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan addressed rumors of a conflict with star player Mohamed Salah during a press conference before the World Cup match against New Zealand. Hassan denied any problems, stating that Salah is a fantastic player, disciplined, and a role model for the team. However, he did not guarantee Salah a starting position, saying whether Salah starts or comes off the bench depends on what is best for the team. This follows a pattern of Salah reportedly having tensions with coaches in recent years. The comments come as Egypt seeks its first win in the World Cup tournament.

Source report

Updated on: 21 June 2026, 02:21 CEST By: Pablo Planas, Editor-in-Chief

Hossam Hassan has become a central topic of conversation in Egypt over an alleged conflict with Mohamed Salah, who appears to be encountering difficulties with his coaches in recent years.

During the press conference ahead of the match against New Zealand—where Egypt will seek its first victory in the World Cup—the Pharaohs' coach was asked about the matter and sought to imply that there are no issues within the camp.

"Salah is an important player for our team, and so are the 26 players who are here," Hassan stated. "They have worked with me and know that I treat them professionally; I have no favorites."

Regarding the former Liverpool player, Hassan added: "He is a great player who helps his teammates. He has a lot of discipline and is a role model."

However, Hassan did not guarantee Salah a starting place in the lineup:

"If he starts... or if he comes off the bench, there is no problem. That is his role as a player. Everyone knows I work for the good of the team and the national team."

Hassan concluded: "Salah is a very disciplined person. He trains with us; he is the first player to comply with my decisions as head coach. Tomorrow he will be very positive."

Source

FútbolRegional

Original headline: Hassan y su supuesto conflicto con Salah: "Es un jugador fantástico, ejemplo a seguir"

Original language: EN

Part of this Story

Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Discusses World Cup Ambitions, Salah's Role, and Team Unity

See the full Story: all sources and camp coverage