EGYPT COACH CRITICIZE MOHAMED SALAH'S LACK OF PLAYING TIME AT CHELSEA

Egypt coach Shawky Gharib was disappointed with Mohamed Salah's lack of playing time with Chelsea and blamed it in part for their defeat by Senegal.


Egypt coach criticize Mohamed Salah's lack of playing time at Chelsea

The 22-year-old winger signed for Chelsea from FC Basel last January for 11 million pounds, scoring two goals in 11 Premier League games last term.

But the winger has yet to feature for Chelsea in the new domestic season -- and Gharib believes Salah lacked the required sharpness as Egypt lost 2-0 against Senegal in African Nations Cup qualifying on Friday.

"We had many mistakes in passing the ball and we failed to put the required pressure on our opponents, but the defenders are not the only ones to be blamed," Gharib said, reported by Ahram Online Sports.

"The poor fitness of the players, especially Chelsea's Mohamed Salah, is also a reason for the loss. The Egyptian league hasn't started yet and also Salah didn't play regularly with Chelsea. If Salah is off-form, Egypt's performance is always affected."

Chelsea forward Diego Costa -- who has scored four goals in his first three games since a 32 million-pound summer move from Atletico Madrid -- faces an assessment on the hamstring injury which forced him to miss Spain's Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia ahead of Saturday's Premier League match against Swansea.