Arne Slot Opinion On Replacing Jurgen Klopp At Liverpool
Arne Slot has played down suggestions that he is taking on the impossible job by succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
The 45-year-old Dutchman, Arne Slot, is expected to be confirmed as Liverpool new head coach imminently with Klopp set to oversee his final match at the helm on Sunday against Wolves.
Slot has built up an impressive body of work at Feyenoord over the past three years and emerged as the overwhelming favourite to succeed Klopp. He has big shoes to fill, though, with Klopp winning both the Premier League and the Champions League during his nine years on Merseyside.
Some have questioned whether Slot, who won the Eredivisie last year, is ready to deal with the pressures of managing a club like Liverpool. But he is relishing the challenge.
“I think that almost every trainer of a top club is on the edge of being overworked,” he told Algemeen Dagblad ahead of what could be his final match in charge of Feyenoord this weekend.
“Being a head coach is a very tough job. Especially at a top club with so many opinion makers in front of you every week. I really experienced this, as it turns out, last season at Feyenoord as tough.”
When he was then asked if moving to Liverpool would lead to more pressure being placed upon him, Slot added: “That would also have been the case if I had stayed at Feyenoord.
“Expectations in De Kuip are also high. People expect good football and good results. That has often been successful, but as a trainer you are constantly working on that.”
It was reported earlier this month that Liverpool had agreed on a compensation package with Feyenoord for Slot’s services, although it now seems as though an official announcement may not be made until after Klopp’s Anfield finale on Sunday.
Klopp, who admitted he was “running out of energy” earlier this year upon announcing he would stand down from his role at the end of the season, is expected to take a sabbatical after leaving Liverpool – even in the wake of links to a number of high profile jobs, including the Germany national team.