We Are Completely Ready: Slot Addresses Galatasaray Challenge & Anfield Boos

Arne Slot met with the media ahead of Liverpool’s second-leg match with Galatasaray in the Champions League. The Reds will have to reverse a 1-0 goal difference at Anfield to advance to the next round. Slot admits the challenges of overturning a 1-0 deficit, addresses the boos by the fans and discusses what he could or would have done differently this season.

A Steep Hill To Climb

Slot admits that the Reds have a tough task ahead of them, particularly since Liverpool have lost to the Rams twice already.

“What of course makes it difficult is we’ve played them already twice and we lost twice against them,” Slot said. “The good thing is that now for the first time we play at home and we have the support of our fans, who will be supportive again tomorrow night, because that’s what they’ve always been and will always be for this club. What I liked after we conceded the 1-1 [against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday], I think the players showed immediately the commitment they have, they sprinted back in a counter moment with seven or eight players to make sure we didn’t concede the 2-1 and a moment later they sprinted forward with five, six or seven to have a five-v-two or a four-v-two on the other end.

So that tells you that they are willing to fight, as they’ve done this whole season and as long as I’m here. I think there haven’t been many games where we’ve been outworked. A few, but not many. There haven’t been many games that we haven’t created more chances than the other team have created. A few, but even less than being outworked. So, our players will show that mentality again that they showed after the 1-1. And I’m 100 per cent sure that our fans will be like they always are, especially on European nights like tomorrow.”

The Boos Have Started 

Even though Slot is looking forward to playing at Anfield, supporters booed the Reds off of the pitch after a 1-1 draw to Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend.

“It’s never nice that they are frustrated because usually fans are not frustrated after you win,” Slot said. “So, first of all you are frustrated yourself and disappointed about the fact that we haven’t won. Second of all, people have told me when I came here that – if, I think you mean it was also towards me, I don’t know if you mean that – when I came here, people have said to me this club is different than other clubs, they will support the manager for such, such, such a long time.

So the moment, if it’s true what you say – I don’t feel this at all but you are supposing something – then I must have done a lot of things wrong. And that’s never a nice feeling to have, because being at a club that’s always so supportive for their manager in good and bad times, then if they are not happy with me then apparently I’ve done so many things wrong and that’s never a nice feeling to have. But I also know how the football industry works. Winning can change a lot, and that’s what we are trying to achieve tomorrow night and we are completely ready for that, I can tell you that.”

What Might Have Been

A reporter asked Slot if he had done something wrong this season that has resulted in so many bad outcomes. Slot admits to mistakes made this season but adds that he also made some during last season’s EPL-winning run.

“I did something wrong in the season that we won the league and I definitely did maybe make a few decisions that were not perfect in hindsight,” he said. “But all the decisions I’ve made, I’ve always made for the same reason: for us trying to win the game. And all the decisions I’ve made, as any manager everywhere around the world tries, [is] to put his team into a situation that they create more chances than the other team creates and that you outwork the opponent. And as I said, I think I can say that at this club but also all the other clubs I’ve worked, 80 or 90 per cent of the games I’ve managed, my teams have outworked the other team and my teams have created more chances than the other team. That the outcome then not always does justice to what I just said, that’s the beauty of football and being in a low-scoring sport – that a deflected shot can be a way of conceding a goal as well.”

LFC Globe Verdict 

I like Slot’s answers. He did not make light of the challenge that the Reds are facing. He also acknowledged the fans' displeasure and that mistakes have been made this season. I don’t know what the future holds, but I hope it includes Arne Slot on the touchline. He should not be judged on one super year. If it bleeds into next season, though, that’s a different story.

Have Your Say

Do you like the fact that Slot admitted to mistakes being made or is it a case of too little too late from the boss? Let us know below.

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