Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah has claimed that he would relinquish all of his personal awards for another shot at glory in the Champions League final.
The Egypt international ended the 2021-22 season having scooped a Golden Boot and Playmaker award double in the Premier League - sharing the top scorer honour with Son Heung-min.
Salah was also named the Football Writers' Association's Player of the Year and is up for the PFA award, although the Premier League's Player of the Season prize went to Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne.
Liverpool won the EFL Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22 but fell short of their quadruple dreams, finishing one point behind Manchester City in the top flight and going down 1-0 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Salah and co endured a frustrating evening on the field at the Stade de France, with Thibaut Courtois producing an exemplary goalkeeping performance as the Belgian stopper made nine saves.
© Reuters
Salah had six shots on target without finding the back of the net in Saint-Denis, and Los Blancos ultimately won their 14th European crown courtesy of Vinicius Junior's second-half winner.
Following the Reds' heartbreak in France, Salah has penned an emotional message to the fans on social media, writing: "Being recognised by the fans and by the sports journalists in the same season is something special that I will never forget.
"I would however give all those personal awards up for a chance at replaying that final, but that is not how football works. I cannot express in words how much we wanted to bring that trophy back to Liverpool but in the end we couldn't.
"I cannot thank the fans enough for your support. It has been a very long season but a part of me wishes the next one starts again tomorrow."
I cannot express in words how much we wanted to bring that trophy back to Liverpool but in the end we couldn't. I cannot thank the fans enough for your support. It has been a very long season but a part of me wishes the next one starts again tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/6ECyIL0AHN
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) June 2, 2022
Salah ended the 2021-22 season with a total of 31 goals and 16 assists from 51 outings in all competitions, and the 29-year-old has confirmed that he will remain at Anfield for at least another 12 months.
The Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid was marred by unsavoury scenes of Liverpool supporters being refused entry into the Stade de France and being tear-gassed by French police, with families, children and journalists all targeted.
The clash kicked off 36 minutes later than originally intended as thousands of supporters queued to gain access to the stadium, with French authorities and UEFA blaming fans with fake tickets or supporters without valid entries storming the gates for the delay.
Such comments have invoked furious responses from the Anfield faithful, and Liverpool announced their request for a formal investigation into the controversy during the final.
UEFA have since revealed that they have commissioned their own independent investigation into the events, which will be led by Portuguese MP Dr. Tiago Brandao Rodrigues.
Ben Knapton
