Paul Parker on Salah, A Potential Ballon d'Or And AFCON

Jamie Carragher’s controversial comments surrounding Mohamed Salah’s diminished likelihood of clinching a Ballon d’Or this season due to running out for Egypt and not playing in a major tournament, regarding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), have caused quite a stir this week.

The former Liverpool defender, 47,  who is no stranger to controversy, indicated that the European Championship and Copa America were major international tournaments, whilst AFCON isn’t fit to be branded as such. The Sky Sports pundit’s comments were challenged on air by Micah Richards and have received backlash since.

We sat down with ex-Manchester United full-back Paul Parker, who had his say on 25-goal Mohamed Salah, and whether the Ballon d’Or will be heading to the Egyptian after another incredible season for the league leaders.

Salah sticks out in a league that’s lacking outstanding individuals

“The Ballon d’Or for Salah depends on where he’ll be next season. I don’t suppose you’ll get that award playing in the Saudi league.”

“I’ve seen a lot of great players in the Premier League, and it wasn’t always about scoring goals that made them great. You can talk about him and Thierry Henry. Dennis Bergkamp, he was an entertainer, a classic entertainer. There were too many great players to choose one from. Choosing one didn’t cut it because there were too many good and great players around.”

“Salah is in an era where individual talent isn’t necessarily there because everyone predominantly is an athlete and a system player. Salah is a bit of an extrovert and he does what he wants to do, and one of the few that’s allowed to do that.”

“The way Liverpool are at the moment, Salah is virtually in a non-defensive kind of role that’s allowing him always to run forward. While he’s doing that and scoring goals, you’re not going to moan too much about it.”

“Salah is mentioned among the greatest right now because he sticks out like a sore thumb in a league that’s lacking outstanding individuals because teams and managers are just going with systems to keep their jobs.”

On Carragher’s AFCON comments

“Jamie Carragher, in that sense, what he said regarding Salah and the AFCON – we don’t really see African football, we don’t see their leagues, a lot of people don’t watch AFCON because of the time and it doesn’t really grab anybody. So we are lazy with it.”

“When it comes to something, we only talk Euros and World Cups. It makes a difference because it’s straight in front of us, and you can’t really avoid it. In a way, I can relate to what Jamie is saying.”

“To say it is a different scenario. Fair play to him to come out and say it. I’d be a hypocrite if I turn around and say you cannot say something like that because there’s a lot of things that we’re not supposed to say.”

“Jamie’s been doing what he’s been doing for a long time and he’s willing to stick his neck out for what he believes. So he can’t be dumped for that. If he doesn’t say it, why is he doing that job?”

“A few will come out and wave the white handkerchief and apologize on behalf of him for what he said. I don’t think he wants that. He wants people to know what he believes. And if they don’t like it because he’s got an opinion, well we can’t like the same things as everyone else. We’re human, we should have different feelings and emotions.”

“The rest of the panel, unless they’re from Africa, would be thinking exactly the same thing as Jamie but just weren’t brave enough to say it.”