Troy Deeney defends himself against claims of Mohamed Salah ‘agenda’
Troy Deeney has defended himself against accusations that he holds an agenda against Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. The former Watford striker has faced a backlash after his take on why Salah could be overlooked for the Ballon d’Or despite leading the Reds’ Premier League title charge with a staggering tally of goals and assists. Troy Deeney received criticism for his comments on Mo SalahtalkSPORT The Egyptian has directly contributed to over 50 goals this season – scoring 30 goals in 39 games in all competitions, while also providing 22 assists. Unsurprisingly, Salah has been thrust into the mix for this year’s Ballon d’Or and many believe a successful end to the season with Liverpool could see the 32-year-old crowned the first African winner of the award since George Weah in 1995. Deeney had previously gone on record saying he does not believe Salah is world class, although conceded the Egyptian is a contender to scoop the 2025 Golden Ball. However, a clip of Deeney explaining why Salah might be overlooked for the gong has gathered traction online and triggered more than a few angry responses. He said: “Salah wasn’t in the top ten in the African [Player of the Year] votes. I just feel like he’s harshly treated because when you watch Mo Salah, he’s great and his numbers are sensational but he doesn’t make you feel like a Thierry Henry or an Eden Hazard. That goes against him. “His numbers are fantastic and his consistency is unbelievable, but at this moment in time he doesn’t make you give you that warm feeling inside, like: ‘Oh my God, look at how great and gracious this person is’. “That is what unfortunately is holding him back.” Deeney’s comments sparked a reaction from former footballer and passionate Liverpool fan Adebayo Akinfenwa, who responded in a video posted on his social media accounts. “Where is this narrative that Mo Salah is not gracious?,” he said “We’re talking about current Mo Salah. “What is not gracious about Mo Salah bringing down the ball from a 60-yard goal kick while a player’s marking him? Salah is in a league of his own this season having fired Liverpool to the cusp of the titleAFP View Tweet: https://t.co/ESryNtIBrX “What is not gracious about Mo Salah’s vision? What striker doesn’t miss chances, what striker doesn’t have a bad touch? “Current Mo Salah, give him five chances and he finishes two, assists two and misses one. Right now, Mo Salah has to be the front runner for the Ballon d’Or.” Speaking on talkSPORT on Friday, Deeney explained that the initial clip was not a criticism of Salah but rather what obstacles could get in the way of him winning the award. “The big man is entitled to his opinion. He does what he does and he says what he says,” Deeney said of Akinfenwa. “My point is, when I say gracious, there’s a very limited amount of people in your whole footballing career where you watch and you’re like, ‘Oh my God’. “Eden Hazard in his pomp at Chelsea when he was dropping the shoulder and going past people, there were times you were just like, ‘How is he doing that?’ Deeney says watching Salah doesn’t excite him like when he watched Hazard tear the Premier League apart in a Chelsea shirtAFP “There are a lot of time where Salah can control a ball relatively easily, misses it and it runs out of play. “There have been games this season where he’s been poor, scores and everyone forgets about it. That’s fine because that’s his job.” “My opinion is I think he goes on to win it [Ballon d’Or], which is what I said in the actual podcast. I think he deserves to win it this year but the actual conversation was around why he was harshly treated. “When you look at him, he doesn’t give you that, that’s just my opinion. “I don’t have an agenda against Mo Salah. I think Salah’s going to win everything, he’s been excellent this year. “But when I look at him he doesn’t give me that warm, fuzzy feeling.”
Troy Deeney has defended himself against accusations that he holds an agenda against Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
The former Watford striker has faced a backlash after his take on why Salah could be overlooked for the Ballon d’Or despite leading the Reds’ Premier League title charge with a staggering tally of goals and assists.
The Egyptian has directly contributed to over 50 goals this season – scoring 30 goals in 39 games in all competitions, while also providing 22 assists.
Unsurprisingly, Salah has been thrust into the mix for this year’s Ballon d’Or and many believe a successful end to the season with Liverpool could see the 32-year-old crowned the first African winner of the award since George Weah in 1995.
Deeney had previously gone on record saying he does not believe Salah is world class, although conceded the Egyptian is a contender to scoop the 2025 Golden Ball.
However, a clip of Deeney explaining why Salah might be overlooked for the gong has gathered traction online and triggered more than a few angry responses.
He said: “Salah wasn’t in the top ten in the African [Player of the Year] votes. I just feel like he’s harshly treated because when you watch Mo Salah, he’s great and his numbers are sensational but he doesn’t make you feel like a Thierry Henry or an Eden Hazard. That goes against him.
“His numbers are fantastic and his consistency is unbelievable, but at this moment in time he doesn’t make you give you that warm feeling inside, like: ‘Oh my God, look at how great and gracious this person is’.
“That is what unfortunately is holding him back.”
Deeney’s comments sparked a reaction from former footballer and passionate Liverpool fan Adebayo Akinfenwa, who responded in a video posted on his social media accounts.
“Where is this narrative that Mo Salah is not gracious?,” he said “We’re talking about current Mo Salah.
“What is not gracious about Mo Salah bringing down the ball from a 60-yard goal kick while a player’s marking him?
“What is not gracious about Mo Salah’s vision? What striker doesn’t miss chances, what striker doesn’t have a bad touch?
“Current Mo Salah, give him five chances and he finishes two, assists two and misses one. Right now, Mo Salah has to be the front runner for the Ballon d’Or.”
Speaking on talkSPORT on Friday, Deeney explained that the initial clip was not a criticism of Salah but rather what obstacles could get in the way of him winning the award.
“The big man is entitled to his opinion. He does what he does and he says what he says,” Deeney said of Akinfenwa.
“My point is, when I say gracious, there’s a very limited amount of people in your whole footballing career where you watch and you’re like, ‘Oh my God’.
“Eden Hazard in his pomp at Chelsea when he was dropping the shoulder and going past people, there were times you were just like, ‘How is he doing that?’
“There are a lot of time where Salah can control a ball relatively easily, misses it and it runs out of play.
“There have been games this season where he’s been poor, scores and everyone forgets about it. That’s fine because that’s his job.”
“My opinion is I think he goes on to win it [Ballon d’Or], which is what I said in the actual podcast. I think he deserves to win it this year but the actual conversation was around why he was harshly treated.
“When you look at him, he doesn’t give you that, that’s just my opinion.
“I don’t have an agenda against Mo Salah. I think Salah’s going to win everything, he’s been excellent this year.
“But when I look at him he doesn’t give me that warm, fuzzy feeling.”
