Inside Arne Slot’s first Liverpool press convention with the brand new boss coming throughout cool, calm, charismatic and extra Paisley than Shankly

It was maybe unsurprising that the very first query of the press convention made reference to Jurgen Klopp’s famed “I’m the traditional” one quote, and likewise underlined how Slot is moving into the shadow of the larger-than-life German. “What he (Jurgen) did was greater than regular,” proffered the Dutchman in a hat tip to his predecessor.

“They’re large footwear to fill however you may take a look at it as inheriting a squad and a crew which has a successful tradition,” he added as he gave respect to the person he replaces and the foundations from which Klopp has left him. Comparisons shall be inevitable within the opening weeks and months; Klopp left an enormous impression on this storied soccer membership after nearly 9 years in cost.

It is encouraging that Slot has embraced them somewhat than seeing them as an undesirable problem or distraction. He shall be his personal man, however he additionally understands what has gone earlier than him.

VIDEO Why Liverpool Wished Arne Slot So Badly

Understated

Whereas Klopp was unveiled at Anfield alongside membership chairman Tom Werner after which chief govt Ian Ayre, Slot’s first press convention because the Reds’ twenty first everlasting supervisor/head coach passed off on the membership’s AXA Coaching Centre in Kirkby and noticed new sporting director Richard Hughes be part of him. The 45-year-old posed for pictures outdoors after which took up his place contained in the press convention room in Kirkby, the place his teaching employees: assistant Spike Hulshoff and head of health Ruben Peeters, who joined him from Feyenoord, took up seats in direction of the again of the room.

Compared to Klopp’s somewhat blockbuster first press convention, which noticed over 150 journalists and media pack into Anfield’s Centenary Stand (now the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand), Arne Slot’s was very a lot understated with fewer than 50 journalists and media in attendance. Klopp’s unveiling noticed the German stand alongside Ayre and Werner for a photograph name on the Anfield pitch, one thing that wasn’t doable for Slot as a result of Anfield pitch at the moment being relaid.

After all, the setting for Slot’s press convention compared to Klopp’s is maybe an ideal metaphor for what the Dutchman is inheriting in comparison with the German; Klopp stood with a half-built Foremost Stand behind him; Slot spoke on the membership’s trendy coaching floor that didn’t exist in 2015. Slot has sturdy foundations to construct from. 

Displaying his character

Whereas Klopp, maybe inadvertently, made a promise to win “one title within the subsequent 4 years,” there have been no such large statements or guarantees from Slot, who wore a tracksuit and really a lot seemed like ‘head coach’ somewhat than supervisor. In Jurgen, Liverpool had a supervisor who actually understood and resonated with the supporters and the local people.

Requested about how he’ll acquire that understanding of the membership and town, Slot outlined his focus for now being on the taking part in area and bettering gamers. “It at all times helps to get to know town however I feel, as a supervisor, it helps much more for those who win most of your video games,” he stated.

The previous Feyenoord boss fielded questions on his taking part in fashion, joking with The RedmenTV’s Chris Pajak when he requested about his ‘most popular’ formation being 4-2-3-1. “I might say we performed 4-3-3 as an alternative of 4-2-3-1 at Feyenoord,” Slot stated, earlier than displaying his charisma and including: “I’m curious who advised you we performed 4-2-3-1, possibly that one ought to go get his [coaching] license – or analyse a bit higher!”

Such humour wasn’t fairly Klopp, but it surely did present perception into Slot’s character and character, which has been in contrast extra to Klopp than Pep Guardiola – the latter maybe being extra his function mannequin for his fashion of play. Slot spoke of “implementing a taking part in fashion which is analogous (to Jurgen’s) however a bit completely different.”

“Generally it’s a 4-2-3-1; generally it’s a 4-1-4-1; generally we do construct up with three (on the again),” he defined. “So there’s loads of ‘freedom’ when we’ve got the ball. However after we don’t have the ball there’s not a lot freedom. We wish to be actually aggressive and there’s just one means, and that’s everyone largely retains his place.”

Playing cards near the chest

Slot set a really skilled tone, refusing to entertain questions when requested about extra confidential elements equivalent to contract talks for the trio of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, and on Alexander-Arnold and Cody Gakpo’s positions throughout the crew. 

“I do have my opinion about the place they’ll play right here,” he stated. “However for those who do not thoughts I’ll converse to them and work with them first!” Equally, he stored his playing cards near his chest on what was mentioned with Klopp when the pair spoke on the cellphone:

“We spoke about many issues, however I feel it’s regular that the issues we’ve got spoken about keep between us.” Slot did, although, reveal that two extra teaching employees are to be appointed, which is definitely wanted after an exodus of employees following Klopp’s departure.

Can Slot be the brand new Paisley?

For supporters, there was a hope that Slot is perhaps the Bob Paisley to Invoice Shankly – Paisley having inherited from Shankly the foundations from which to ship unprecedented silverware. Slot is clearly snug and glad to concentrate on the teaching facet of the job, absolutely embracing the chance forward.

The switch speak, which regularly irritated Klopp, may be saved for any person else – and it was constructive to see the membership put Hughes alongside Slot for the revealing. Slot was requested about being formally Liverpool’s first ‘head coach’ versus a supervisor.

“For me it isn’t a change,” he stated. “In Europe we work like this and I’ve labored at Feyenoord and my former golf equipment like this. “There usually are not many golf equipment on this planet the place one individual decides all the things.

It’s a collaboration between many individuals. I don’t assume there are numerous sporting administrators who usher in gamers the supervisor or head coach doesn’t like and it’s the different means round.”

Once more, he responded in a relaxed, delivered method which oozed of a person comfy and never out of their consolation zone – which can’t be straightforward given that is his first job outdoors his native Netherlands and at a membership of Liverpool’s stature, with these big footwear to fill.

In a quote which may properly have been Paisley talking about Shankly, Slot stated: “The previous has proven there’s a chance to win some trophies. I prefer to work with gamers and prefer to develop them however I prefer to win as properly, and at this membership there is a chance to win.”

And there’s the crux of it. For Slot to change into the Paisley to Klopp’s Shankly, all he has to do is win trophies… simpler stated than accomplished! On face worth to this point, Slot appears extra Paisley than Shankly, and that definitely would not be an issue if historical past repeated at Anfield.

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