Arne Slot pulled a “shock” on Bayer Leverkusen in fielding Luis Diaz as his No. 9 within the Champions League on Tuesday – even when his rival coach doesn’t agree.
Diaz was deployed up entrance for the primary time below Slot as Liverpool hosted Leverkusen, and got here away along with his first-ever hat-trick in a 4-0 win.
The Colombian was maybe the unlikely alternative when trying on the teamsheet given Cody Gakpo additionally began, however Slot’s clarification was clear.
Talking to journalists in his post-match press convention, the Dutchman outlined why Diaz began as No. 9.
“Just a few issues,” he started.
“I solely have 4 attackers out there in the mean time, with the accidents of Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa.
“And Darwin didn’t play that a lot at first, then he began to play a bit extra, however with this fixture checklist it’s virtually unimaginable to play all of them, particularly once you haven’t performed that many video games earlier than.
“In order that, together with the truth that I believe [Jonathan] Tah is without doubt one of the finest defenders in Germany – possibly the very best defender in Germany – and he likes possibly to play extra towards a goal man, somebody who’s there within the center.
“We selected to play Lucho extra from the left or the midfield and possibly shock him afterwards with runs in behind – not solely him, however normally.
“In the event you take a look at the primary purpose, that paid off. What a cross from Curtis Jones!”
Requested if he was more likely to used Diaz as a striker once more, Slot replied: “If we have now extra accidents like we have now in the mean time then this might occur, sure.
“However that additionally will depend on who’s out there and the way the opposite crew strains up, what the formation is.
“However final season I believe if each of them play, then it was extra Cody who performed as a 9 and Lucho as a No. 11.
“That’s additionally a chance, however then we possibly had this top from Cody towards Tah as a substitute of somebody who’s a bit extra versatile and drops into the midfield.”
Whereas Slot used Diaz up entrance as a way to “shock” Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso stopped wanting utilizing that phrase when he mentioned the tactical ploy.
“We had been prepared that they could change one thing, due to the state of affairs with 9 factors, having the Premier League, being in a superb place,” he advised reporters.
“We had been prepared for them to vary one thing.
“I didn’t know if Gakpo was going to be up entrance and Luis on the left after I noticed the lineup, the opposite issues, Tsimikas or Robertson, Curtis Jones or Szoboszlai.
“So no huge shock, as a result of they will do this.
“The objectives weren’t as a result of we weren’t ready for that, it was due to the standard that they’ve and later as a result of we had been going full gasoline to attempt to rating one purpose to vary the mindset.
“Possibly with 2-1 one thing modifications, and after it’s 3-0, 4-0, it’s exhausting, the end result for me.”
