Liverpool boss Arne Slot has issued a stark warning to his players, stating that they will be forever haunted if they fail to secure the Premier League title this season.
Despite being 12 points clear at the top of the table with just nine games remaining, the Reds are still reeling from their Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle and Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
Slot is well aware of the high stakes, acknowledging that failure in the title race would result in unbearable torment. However, he remains steadfast in his attacking philosophy, believing it to be the best form of defense.
In a new book detailing his journey to Merseyside, the Dutchman said: “I know how it works. If you don’t pick up trophies as a manager or as a player, it can haunt you for decades.
“There are different ways to be remembered. Look at the Holland team in the 1974 World Cup. Everyone saw that World Cup as the tournament where Holland came out as a winner. But they didn’t come home with the cup. It was about their style of play.
“Of course, I want to win as many games as possible – but I also want to stay in the memory of people. That is a trophy in itself, in my opinion. I love it when people describe me as the coach who is always thinking in an attacking style. As long as you keep attacking, you improve the chances that you will come out as a winner.
“Take as many risks with your team as you want because that will bring you more rewards than when you make choices fed by fear. I will lose games in my life in future, for sure – but never will I lose them from having a defensive mindset.”
Arsenal emerges as Liverpool’s main title rival this season under Slot’s leadership since he took the reins from Klopp. The Reds are prepping to face Everton at Anfield on 2 April in what promises to be an electrifying Merseyside derby.
After guiding Feyenoord to glory in the Eredivisie in 2023, Slot’s dynamic philosophy now influences Liverpool’s style of play. He also expresses his high regard for Pep Guardiola, as revealed in the insightful ‘Slotball.’
With unwavering confidence, Slot shares: “I have no fear when I do my team-talks these days. I am fully confident that all my attacking ideas will work out. I have no room for fear or nerves. I make my decisions on the basis of logic and what I see.
“The only time I might feel a bit nervous is if Pep (Guardiola) was in the same room looking over my shoulder! I want my teams to play in such a dynamic way that we are really difficult for our opponents to analyze.”
