The arrival of Arne Slot at Liverpool following a £9 million compensation agreement has brought about various reactions from the fan base.
Although Slot is renowned for his ability to motivate players and communicate clearly, some weren’t pleased with the announcement. Dutch football pundit Marcel Vanderkran notes that because of his reputation for insisting on speaking English in the dressing room, he has established a strong authority over his teams since joining Feyenoord.
Doubts raised ahead of Slot’s arrival at Liverpool
Speaking on talkSPORT, Ally McCoist voiced doubts over Slot’s ability to succeed in the Premier League right away. He emphasised the historical challenges Dutch managers have had to overcome to win the Premier League. “No Dutchman has won the English Premier League,” he noted, highlighting the difficulty that Slot would face.
McCoist also questioned the typical overestimation of coaching performance in leagues with lower levels of competition than the Premier League. “Do we sometimes give too much credit to a coach’s performance in Holland, where the competition is far less intense?” he said.
McCoist also pointed out at a recent sideline altercation involving Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah, believing it showed deeper issues. “It didn’t look good and it did not send out a good message,” McCoist stated, implying that Slot would face challenges in a Liverpool club undergoing change.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, Slot’s arrival coincides with Liverpool’s display of a bright young roster that might provide a strong base for the incoming manager. The talkSPORT conversation, which featured opinions from guests including Sha Custis and Henry Winter, highlighted the mix of challenges and opportunities that Slot will face.
Will Slot succeed at Liverpool?
It is far too early to say how Slot will fare at Liverpool but it is safe to say it might not be as simple as many might think.
Admittedly, Klopp has transformed Liverpool into an elite side over recent years. However, it is also easy to see that the Reds have gotten significantly weaker in the past two seasons. It does not further help that star man Mohamed Salah’s future at the club remains uncertain.
Klopp’s nine year tenure at Liverpool is set to end in disappointing fashion, with the club losing all their realistic chances of claiming silverware.
Regardless, Slot has a solid foundation and identity of the club’s philosophy to build on when he officially arrives at Anfield in the summer.
