Mohamed Salah Liverpool is coming under scrutiny this season – but Mido believes expectations on his fellow Egyptian are too high and says he will still score 25 goals this season.
Salah has scored only three goals in his first nine games so far this season, having scored an incredible 44 in 52 appearances in his debut campaign at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp says he is “completely relaxed” about his talisman’s form, however, and Mido agrees there is absolutely no cause for concern.
“Salah is great, one of the greatest, and I don’t think he is under any pressure with what people are saying now,” Mido told Planet Football at the Petrolex Kanu Cup.
“He has played some good games, scored three goals and had some assists, so he’s under no pressure. He doesn’t have any point to prove.
“He’s not going to [score 40 every year]. I think he will reach 25 goals, which is still very good.
“I think people are a little bit harsh on him. The expectations are too high and that’s not good for him.”
Salah, of course, was a part of the Egypt team which failed to make it past the group stage at the World Cup over the summer – but Mido believes things may have been different had Salah not suffered a shoulder injury in the Champions League final.
“I think we would have done better if he was 100% fit,” Mido said.
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“Also, I think the build-up for the tournament arrangement was really bad and that affected the team badly.
“[Salah] is not happy with the arrangements. He’s a top-class player and wants everything to be perfect because that’s the only way of winning things. We haven’t been to a major tournament for so many years and we have to learn.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done for an African team to reach the semi-final of the World Cup.
“But come on, we hadn’t qualified for the World Cup for 28 years and we were just happy we were there.”
Mido, who says Salah winning the Puskas award is “great for Egypt and African football”, also had words of encouragement for Harry Kane, who had also been accused of being below his best in the early stages of the season for Mido’s former club Tottenham.
“I still think Kane needs to be managed in a better way when it comes to the number of games he is playing now,” Mido said.
“He’s had a long summer with England reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup and when the manager sees it’s the right time to give him some rest, I think it will be great for him and he’ll come back much fresher.
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“[Spurs] are doing fine, there are some great talents and I think we have a very good manager. The club has been going in the right direction the last two years and I am happy for everyone at the club.”
Mido was speaking at the Petrolex Kanu Cup in association with Masters Football, where Arsene Wenger returned to the dug-out for the first time since leaving Arsenal. The charity match was set up by ex-Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu to raise funds for and awareness of heart conditions in Africa.