Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is pleased with the playing time that Mohamed Salah is getting at Fiorentina, but the Portuguese expressed his disappointment at Tottenham Hotspur’s exit from the Europa League last night.

Salah was sent on loan to the Italian outfit in January for the remainder of the season and he played an instrumental role in Tottenham Hotspur’s departure from the Europa League, scoring Fiorentina's second goal in Florence.




The loan deal has worked in the Egyptian's favour as he has become a starter in Vincenzo Montella’s team and has already notched up two goals and one assist in his three Serie A appearances.

Mourinho appears pleased with the chances that the 22-year-old is getting in La Viola’s first team.
 


“Salah went there to play and he is getting his time on the pitch”, Mourinho explained to a press conference this afternoon.

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However, the Portuguese insists that he is only interested in the progress that the winger is making during his Italian stint and the manager believes that Spurs' exit from Europa League is not good for the English game.

“We only care about his evolution, not that he scored a goal against an English team which I don’t think is good for anyone here.”

After the conclusion of round of 32 action in the Europa League only Everton among the English sides remain in the competition as both Liverpool and Spurs exited yesterday. In the Champions League, Manchester City and Arsenal’s fortunes are hanging precariously after they lost the first leg of their round of 16 ties.

Chelsea drew against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Prices in their first leg and are strong favourites to progress to the quarter-finals when the second leg is played in March.

Mourinho explained that success in Europe is good for the English teams and their continued failure among European elite can be damaging for the development of football in England.

“Sometimes in this country people with big responsibilities forget we need English teams to succeed in Europe. 

“I am never happy when an English team loses in Europe because I work in this country and I may be affected by that in the future.”

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