ARNE SLOT has scored an early own goal as the incoming Liverpool boss – by admitting the Reds are not one of his favourite Premier League teams to watch.
The Feyenoord boss, 45, is poised to replace Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.
The two clubs have agreed a compensation package worth approximately £9.4million for the Dutchman to be bought out of his contract in Rotterdam.
However, Liverpool fans will be hoping for a change of heart from Slot following an interview that has resurfaced from May 2023.
Asked about his admiration for Manchester City chief Pep Guardiola, he told Voetbal International: “I certainly don’t want to compare myself to Pep, but he is a control freak just like me.
“If I look at myself, I try to win a match in the week before it is played, by conveying the training, pre-match team talks and tactics to the players as perfectly as possible.”
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Then he revealed watching City is his “ultimate joy in football”.
And Slot revealed there are two other top-flight English teams he makes a beeline to catch when they are on – but Liverpool are not one of them.
He added: “There is no team in the world I would rather watch than Manchester City, followed by Napoli, Arsenal and Brighton.
“But City – and again it is not my intention to compare us with them – have a similar style of play to how we want to play with Feyenoord: 4-3-3, building up from the back, wanting to apply pressure quickly.”
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Slot is set to take over as Klopp’s successor with the German resigning at the end of the Premier League season on May 19.
His final game in charge after nearly nine years will be the home clash with Wolves – which could still see the Reds clinch the title.
Although that now seems unlikely following shock defeats to Crystal Palace and rivals Everton in recent weeks.
Slot appears to be the ideal candidate to replace Klopp – both on and off the pitch.
His high-pressing style of football has seen Feyenoord mix it with the biggest teams in the Eredivisie, winning the title in 2022-23.
He is keen to give youngsters a chance and is a strong man-manager.
Being fluent in English will help him communicate with the players – and enable him to express his charismatic and funny personality.
Slot snubbed Spurs, hates defending and has a PASS named after him
By Dan King
LIVERPOOL managerial target Arne Slot was a good enough player to have a type of pass named after him.
But it is as a manager that the Feyenoord head coach is really making his mark.
Like another bald Dutchman, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, Slot earned his stripes bossing smaller sides before being given a chance at one of the Netherlands’ big three.
But the question Liverpool are pondering is whether Slot would make a better fist of running one of the biggest clubs in the world than Ten Hag so far has at Old Trafford.
Slot, 45, was certainly easier on the eye as a player than centre back Ten Hag.
“The Arne Slot Ball” was something he perfected as a silky No 10 – a back-to-goal, first-time, 180-degree spin and flick behind the defensive line for a winger to run on to deep in the opposition half.
Click here to read all about the incoming Liverpool boss.
Slot looks on course to be joined at Anfield by his right-hand man Sipke Hulshoff.
The Reds are also keen to poach Feyenoord’s head of performance Ruben Peeters and analyst Etienne Reijnen.
The confirmation of his appointment is set to be announced imminently.
Klopp said of Slot’s expected arrival: “I’m not involved in the process, just to clarify that.
Arne Slot’s record is WORSE than Erik ten Hag’s
ARNE SLOT is set to be tasked with a near-impossible job – replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Should he swap the Eredivisie for the Premier League, Slot will follow in the footsteps of fellow follically-challenged Dutchman Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag left Ajax to become Manchester United manager in 2022.
But he has suffered a nightmare spell at Old Trafford and appears to be a dead-man walking despite making the FA Cup final.
With Slot seemingly destined for Anfield, fans won’t be able to help but compare his record in Holland with Ten Hag’s.
And Reds supporters won’t like what they see.
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“What I like a lot about it, if he is the one, is that he really wants to take the job. He is desperate. So, ‘Come on, let’s go for it.’ Excited.
“I like the way his team plays football, definitely.
“All the things I hear about him – some people I know know him, I don’t know him yet – but some people tell me that he’s a really good guy, and I like that a lot.
“So, good coach, good guy, looking forward for the club. If he’s the solution, or the man, then I’m more than happy.
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“It’s the best job in the world, best club in the world. Obviously now, I help even by not finishing on a high – it looks like – so there’s space for improvement.
“It’s a great job, fantastic people. He would take a really interesting job.”
Liverpool go Dutch
WHO’S who in the Liverpool dugout next season.
Manager Arne Slot, 45
Slot has led Feyenoord for three seasons, wining the Eredivisie title in 2023 and the KNVB Cup in 2024.
A former footballer in Holland, he is known to be a perfectionist and favours attacking football like Jurgen Klopp.
Assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff, 49
Hulshoff currently serves as Ronald Koeman’s assistant manager with the Holland national team and also works alongside Slot at Feyenoord.
He has had two spells as manager at little-known Dutch side Cambuur.
Head of performance Ruben Peeters, 31
A former fitness coach at Genk, Peeters has been working with Slot at Feyenoord since 2021.
The Belgian has a Master’s Degree in Sports Sciences.
Chief analyst Etienne Reijnen, 37
Former centre back who retired from football in 2020 to move into coaching.
In October 2023, Reijnen joined Feyenoord as assistant coach, to focus on analysing and providing technical advise to Arne Slot.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
