- Frank Lampard believes Mohamed Salah’s personality has been vital to rejuvenated career
- Chelsea legend says the forward has always had natural ability
- Salah scored against former employers in 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday
- SEE MORE: Willian makes suspect revelation about equaliser vs Liverpool
Frank Lampard insists Mohamed Salah’s natural ability was always evident during his difficult spell with Chelsea.
The Egyptian moved to Stamford Bridge in 2014, but managed only 19 appearances before joining Fiorentina on loan in 2015.
Salah remained in Italy for the following two years, signing for Roma on a temporary basis before joining the Serie A giants on a permanent deal.
The forward’s impressive tally of 19 goals and 13 assists during the 2016/2017 campaign saw him top Jurgen Klopp’s list of attacking targets, before eventually making the switch to Anfield in June this year.
Lampard believes Salah’s time in Italy played a key role in helping him develop the thick-skin and the self-belief required to excel in England’s top flight.
“There shouldn’t be too much finger pointing. I was there with Salah, he was young,” Lampard told BT Sport.
“It was probably an early stage in his career, it didn’t work for him, he went away and did well.”
“It’s very hard – Chelsea had an abundance of talent in those positions at that time. So I’d rather focus on the player. Credit to them for going away, working hard and coming back.”
“He’s now got more personality and a feeling of deserving to be there.”
“He’s always had these abilities, he was quick, he had good feet but now he comes and he feels like he’s a top player.”
Salah has somewhat exceeded expectations by not only proving to be a perfect fit to Klopp’s attacking setup and philosophy, but also establishing himself as a prolific goal-scoring threat.
He has returned to England a far more accomplished player and more assured in his value to those around him.
Besides representing another source of the pace and explosiveness Sadio Mane offers, Salah has emerged as a versatile option capable of being an outlet through the middle.
This has subsequently helped him adapt quickly to the attacking interchanging that Liverpool’s system demands.
For less than £40million, he has been an undisputed bargain.