Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk issued a strong show of support for Arne Slot in an interview with Sky Sports while also addressing the criticism and noise around the Reds at the moment.
“The criticism we are getting this season is deserved,” he said. “The media has a big role this day and age. For me personally, I can deal with it, but I’m not so sure about the younger players. I tell them to stay off social media. It’s not as easy as everyone thinks (to deal with the media). Criticism is normal, but sometimes it crosses a line to clickbait.”
The captain also came to the defence of Slot, offering several reasons why the Reds have struggled at times this year.
“We have had some really good games and also some really poor results,” he said. “The way we have been playing at times, the way we have been losing games on the bounce, that's not the standard we set, especially last year.”
Van Dijk offers a couple of explanations for the inconsistencies while offering support for Slot
“It takes time to adjust to playing for Liverpool Football Club, and there is also a lot of pressure in being the defending champions. You can’t pin it on one issue and say ‘that’s the problem’. We are in a process of things, and it takes time. From what I know, Liverpool is not a club of making rash decisions, and they trust the process. But I know how the world works. I know the pressure that managers are under, and they are held responsible and accountable for the results we are getting. I still feel that it's a process. In my eyes, he (Slot )deserves the respect and the chance to make sure that this process is going to end in a positive way."
LFC Globe Verdict
Good for the Captain. All the noise around Slot’s job security feels like he said, “clickbait”. Do the Reds deserve criticism for the way they have played at times this season? Yes, but it’s unfair to lay all the struggles at the feet of the boss. Consider the injuries and the young players like Florian Witz and Hugo Ekitiké adjusting to the EPL. They seem to have it figured out now, though, and if fans will show patience as the top brass and van Dijk himself have urged, good times will return to Merseyside sooner rather than later.
