4 months ago
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Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool’s new manager had his first press conference as players begin to return for pre-season ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Liverpool’s players have begun to return for another pre-season, and for the first time in nine years it will be with a new manager following Jürgen Klopp’s decision to depart at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Replacing him is Arne Slot, who has arrived at Anfield following three standout seasons with Feyenoord, and as the players began to returntoday he held his first press conference as the new man in charge.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, he faced some questions about Klopp and where he sees himself fitting in, arriving as he does after a man who will go down as one of the club’s all-time great managers.
“When Jürgen arrived he said he was the normal one but what was important was the impression he left behind,” Slot said in answer to the first question he faced as Liverpool’s new head coach.
“Winning trophies of course but his playing style I think the fans loved it, so maybe he said he was the normal one but I think the fans see him differently and what he did for the club was more than normal.”
Replacing somebody of Klopp’s stature would be a massive challenge for anyone, but a coordinated transition and a strong squad left to his successor should at least improve the chances for success.
Slot has inherited a squad that is young and talented, with room for improvement but without any truly glaring needs, and so improvement will be his goal—measured evolution rather than revolution.
“If you work in this league everyone gets better every season so it’s also important for us to improve,” Slot added. “Our competitors will improve but that is normal if you work in the best league in the world.
“They will get better but we will get better as well and that’s why we come in every day, to work and try to make the team better.”
