Mohamed Salah: John Obi Mikel says Liverpool star’s mindset was reason why he failed at Chelsea - ‘Mentality was a bit weak’
Published 26/05/2025 at 17:17 GMT+1
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Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel claimed that Mohamed Salah failed to make the grade at Chelsea due to his "mentality". The winger was at Stamford Bridge between 2014 and 2016, but made just 13 Premier League appearances for The Blues. Since signing for Liverpool in 2017, however, he has established himself as one of the Premier League's greatest players.
Why didn't it work out for Salah at Chelsea?
Video credit: TNT Sports
John Obi Mikel claimed that Mohamed Salah’s "mentality" was the reason he struggled to make an impact at Chelsea.
Since signing for Liverpool in the summer of 2017, Salah has firmly established himself as one of the Premier League’s greatest players.
The Egyptian has netted 245 goals and registered 113 assists in his 401 appearances for the Merseysiders, while in that time he has won two Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League, an FA Cup and two League Cups.
Salah’s exploits at Liverpool would have been particularly eyebrow-raising for the hierarchy at Chelsea, who signed the attacker in 2014 as a 21-year-old.
He struggled to break into the side under Jose Mourinho and played just 13 times for The Blues in the Premier League before being sent out on loan to Fiorentina ahead of a permanent transfer to Roma.
When asked why Salah failed to make the grade at Chelsea, former Blues midfielder Mikel told TNT Sports’ What I Wore: "It’s the story that could have been.
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Van Dijk lifts Premier League trophy as Liverpool are crowned champions at thronging Anfield
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I think it was mentality - I'd put it down to that. At the football club back then, the dressing room was tough. Players with so much ego. Big managers with so much ego.
"And if you couldn’t take the hit, you had to go. I think that’s what happened to [Salah], Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku.
"I know now they’ve matured, they’re much stronger, but I think back then their mentality was a bit weak.
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"And for me the mentality then was very strong. With what I went through, with the whole transfer saga and everything, it built my mentality - I was already mentally strong coming into the club and that really helped me.
"But for these guys the reason it didn’t work out well at the club was just mentality.
"They’re very talented players and they’ve gone on to show that. Now we can see all that. They’re players who’ve gone and achieved so much and become the best players in the world."
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