Mohamed Salah is proud to have proven naysayers wrong after his stunning return to the Premier League has seen him break records and collect a number of player of the year awards this season.
The Egyptian was named player of the season and players' player of the year at the Liverpool's end-of-season awards at Anfield on Thursday, before jetting off to London to be handed his Football Writers' Association's award later in the night.
Speaking at the latter event, the former Chelsea castoff said his triumphant return to the Prem has given him great satisfaction this season.
"To be honest, yes," Salah said when asked if he was proud of his accomplishments. "Because I was here like four years ago and a lot of people said he couldn't [have] success, that I can not play in the Premier League, [that] it was very difficult for him.
"So it was always in my mind to come back -- from first day I left Chelsea -- it was always in my mind to make him wrong. So I made them wrong."
The 25-year-old has scored 43 goals in all competitions since arriving from Roma last summer, a return which has seen him heavily linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid, who face Liverpool in the Champions League final later this month.
Salah reassured Liverpool fans at the Merseyside gathering that his breakout first season was "just the beginning'' of his time at Anfield.
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"I'm very happy here, everything is fine,'' he said.
"Of course I have got ambitions for the future with Liverpool. As you can see we had a great season, now we are in the Champions League final and everyone is excited.
"It is just the start. This is my first year here and it is the same for some other players. It is just the beginning.''
Salah was also asked at the FWA about his preferred position and while he admitted to liking to play on the right wing he said it really didn't matter to him as long as he found a place to score. The former Roma man also expressed a deep sense of pride to be playing with such great players on a great team.
"[Roberto Firmino and Said Mane] have big quality," Salah said. "They always try to give me the ball and score. They have a big quality and they are unbelievable inside the pitch and outside and I'm very proud to be part of the team and play with them."
Liverpool cannot focus all of their energies on Real just yet, with the battle for a place in next season's competition still not settled.
A point at home to Brighton on Sunday will be enough to secure a top-four finish, after which all eyes turn to Kiev.
"We are very comfortable about playing in the Champions League next season,'' he said.
"For now we are thinking only about Brighton. Then we will have 14 days to prepare for the final. We will play to win against Real Madrid.
"It's always special to play in any final. We know it's not going to be easy.''
As for his rapidly growing collection of gongs, he added: "I'm very happy to win these awards. I had a good season but without the help of my teammates it would have been very difficult.''
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp wrote to the FWA to pay tribute to his star forward.
"It was typical of Mo's character that he was so keen to attend, and I don't mean he is greedy for awards but being gracious and well-mannered enough to make every effort to be there in person,'' he wrote.
"There's not much I can say about what he does on the pitch that you guys haven't already seen and written about.
"The fact you have written about him means you have witnessed his incredible ability as a footballer -- but it's his qualities as a person which should not be overlooked.
"The only labels we should put on Mo is what a good person he is and what a fantastic footballer he is and, by the way, the first part of that is more important.
"Mo, we are very proud of you and thankful for what you have done for this team and club. We look forward to sharing many more seasons with you at Liverpool.''
Salah won the FWA award from Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane.
Chelsea and England forward Fran Kirby was the inaugural winner of the women's award.
"She wants to be the best football in the world and she will achieve that with her dedication,'' said England Women manager Phil Neville as the award was presented.
Also at Anfield, Trent Alexander-Arnold was named young player of the season, Wales international Harry Wilson took the academy award and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain's thunderbolt against Manchester City in the Champions League was recognised as goal of the season.
Sophie Ingle and Gemma Bonner won Liverpool Ladies' players' player of the season and player of the season respectively.