Arne Slot might idolise Pep Guardiola however Liverpool see him as a pure successor to Jurgen Klopp.
The 45-year-old Dutchman, who was confirmed as the brand new head coach at Anfield on Monday, has earned a popularity as a perfectionist and management freak and has mentioned the Metropolis boss and Lionel Messi are the 2 individuals to have enriched soccer and by no means dissatisfied him in latest many years.
“Guardiola’s groups all the time play good, dominant, effectively thought out soccer,” Slot mentioned a few years in the past.
“Then after all you might have Jurgen Klopp. Manchester Metropolis-Liverpool for me is the last word sport.” He’s about to expertise that first-hand.
For all his admiration of Guardiola, his model is extra akin to Klopp’s – his Feyenoord workforce performs 4-3-3 and their urgent has turn into among the many most profitable of any workforce throughout Europe’s high seven leagues, with numbers intently mirroring these of Liverpool, and his desire for a excessive defensive position is a well-recognized tactic.
That can assist with the transition because it mustn’t require main modifications in techniques or personnel at Anfield.
Slot can be thought to be an knowledgeable in man administration and greater than able to dealing with the media – which performs a major half within the function of Liverpool supervisor – and he locations an enormous emphasis on creating younger gamers.
It might seem Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports activities Group’s new chief government of soccer, has picked a Klopp clone however even he is aware of that’s inconceivable contemplating the affect the German has had on and off the pitch in 9 years.
However whereas the similarities are apparent, and considerably comprehensible, Liverpool will hope they’ve recognized the person who cannot solely proceed Klopp’s work however improve it.
When Slot, who’s open to new concepts and has even watched his native basketball membership for inspiration, arrived at Feyenoord that they had completed fifth within the Eredivisie and weren’t blessed with vital monetary assets.
However in his first season he took them to the Europa League remaining, as Klopp did with Liverpool, and gained the league in his second marketing campaign.
He suits the FSG philosophy of getting extra from untapped assets or underrated gamers – maybe finest exemplified by Turkey worldwide Orkun Kokcu who was reworked beneath his management and, after lifting the league trophy, was offered to Benfica for a membership document £21.5million-plus.
In Slot’s earlier job he guided unfancied AZ Alkmaar to second within the league in a Covid-shortened 2019-20 season.
He now has to make the appreciable step up when it comes to high quality and expectation. Liverpool will hope they’ve chosen effectively.
