Frank Lampard has offered Mohamed Salah his heartfelt best wishes ahead of the Champions League final, in a conversation recently picked up off camera.
Lampard travelled to Anfield in his role as a BT Sport pundit to speak with Salah ahead of the Kiev showdown, to be united with the man who he previously played alongside at Chelsea.
While setting up the cameras, additional footage from LFC TV captured the former England midfielder sharing a heartfelt moment with Salah, patting the winger’s leg while expressing his delight for the incredible season he’s had.
Frank Lampard gave a heartfelt word of well-wishing to Mohamed Salah ahead of the final
The former Chelsea man patted Salah on the leg while admitted how pleased he is for him
The duo then launched into an interview for BT Sport ahead of the Champions League final
‘I’m just so happy for you,’ a beaming Lampard told the Egyptian.
‘You’ve been brilliant.’
Salah was visibly touched by Lampard’s words, and could be seen smiling as the cameras starting to roll for the official interview.
The duo then went on to discuss the motivation behind Salah’s return to the Premier League, following a difficult start to life in English football at Stamford Bridge.
Salah found opportunities limited under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, and was soon loaned out to Fiorentina and Roma before sealing a permanent transfer to the Eternal City.
Lampard played against Salah when at Basle before the two then became Chelsea team-mates
Salah admits Chelsea life was tough but it made him more determined to return to England
‘Everyone told me “no don’t change, the Premier League (was) difficult for you, why (would) you go back?'” Salah told Lampard.
‘”You had a bad experience there”, or “you didn’t play there much”, or “the game is too intense for you and too fast”, so it was always in my mind to come back.’
Looking back on his Chelsea days, Salah is the first to admit he was basically still a kid when he arrived in English football.
‘I had one season with you [Lampard] and we know each other. It was an honour to play with you, but when I was there I was not playing much. I was also still a kid.
Salah has been a revelation upon his return, scoring 44 goals for Liverpool this season
‘When I look back I learned a lot from Jose [Mourinho], from the club, everything there was different for me because I came from Basle to Chelsea and it was different.’
Salah is hoping to help Liverpool down Real Madrid in Ukraine and win the sixth European Cup in the club’s history on Saturday.
The forward has scored 10 goals in Europe this season, and 44 in all competitions for the Reds.