Liverpool doesn’t seem to be celebrating their return to the pinnacle of English football at their full potential. They’ve also just announced that Mohammed Salah has been named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA). It’s all good news, but the celebration isn’t quite right.
Alexander Arnold’s announced departure continues to rankle many fans, and although everything has been decided in the Premier League, along with the fact that the Englishman will no longer be a Liverpool player when the season ends , Arne Slot continues to be asked about the international’s departure. This was the case at the recent press conference ahead of the Reds’ match against the Gunners this coming Sunday.Â
Destination
When asked about Alexander Arnold’s fate and whether or not he’ll be able to play in the Club World Cup (Liverpool isn’t competing), Arne Slot didn’t say anything directly about it, but his smile gave him away. In fact, he even asked the journalist who asked him about it if he knew which team he was going to after his departure.
“He hasn’t said anything about it himself. Only that he’s leaving. That’s why it’s impossible for me to comment on which club he’s going to or whether he’ll play in the Club World Cup. But you can see from my smile that we both know where he’s going, but I can’t say more,” the Dutch coach said.
However, he didn’t overlook the club’s disappointment with his departure. He has been a mainstay for the team, not just this season, but since he began his playing career at Anfield.
“We are disappointed that he is leaving, not only because he is an excellent human being, but also because a very talented right-back is leaving the club,” he told colleagues from the English press.
Previous experience
The Dutchman has acknowledged that he has experienced similar situations in his previous coaching stints, both at AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, and that he has already seen the departure of some great players who have performed well during the season.Â
Experience tells me that whenever this happens, when a good player leaves, the player who comes or replaces him will step up.
“I’m used to losing players every season,” Slot acknowledged, not without first making it clear that the experience allows him to send a clear message, both to the fans and even to his rivals.Â
“Experience tells me that whenever this happens, when a good player leaves, the player who comes in or replaces him will step up. And that‘s what will probably happen again,” he concluded.
The fan’s reaction
During the press conference, the manager also stated that he is not the one to tell fans how to behave regarding Alexander Arnold’s decision. ” I’m not here for that,” he warned, referring to how Anfield will handle his current player this coming Sunday.Â
“I think we’re all disappointed, but Trent is also the first to say that he would prefer that, as a team and as a club, we didn’t get too distracted by this announcement. So I hope that all the energy on Sunday is focused on the players and the support of our fans, and as little as possible on Trent; unless it’s positive, then they can do what they want.