Sir Alex Ferguson has yet to send his congratulations. Not so far, at least.
Maybe the ex-Manchester United boss, who famously fulfilled his deep-seated desire to topple Liverpool from its perch, is holding off until Arne Slot brings the Reds level with their arch-rivals once more. The fact that Slot required clarification on why this 20th title carries extra significance for fans who’ve been yearning for 35 years to witness their team clinch the championship in person speaks volumes about his approach in his inaugural season at Anfield.
“What is the perch?” Slot queried upon hearing about the phrase that became synonymous with Ferguson’s 27-year tenure at Old Trafford. “Ah, okay. That would be nice.”
In contrast to his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, the 46-year-old Dutchman is the epitome of understatement. Don’t expect any exuberant fist-pumps towards the Kop or cameras if the team Slot took over from Klopp last summer secures the solitary point they need against Tottenham to seal the title.
However, the squad assembled by Klopp could only muster one Premier League crown during his nine years at the helm. Now, with five matches remaining, they stand on the cusp of outperforming Arsenal, Manchester City, and the rest.
Despite his success, Slot remains modest about his own contributions. “It is for other people to judge me,” he remarked. “It would be a bit weird to judge myself. I can judge the performance for my staff and the medical staff – and they should get a lot of credit.
“We had our injuries, but that’s what every team has because you can’t go through this league without injuries because the schedule is too much. We were always able to perform at our standards in terms of physicality, so that is a very big compliment to the medical and performance staff. And the tactical staff is also part of that process.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Maybe I will judge myself at the end of the season and see if I can do better. But to do it in public would just be a bit weird.”
Meanwhile, United’s title drought has stretched to 12 seasons post-Ferguson, and Arsenal seems set for another second-place finish, extending their championship absence to 21 years. Both clubs have undergone extensive rebuilds, prompting Slot to comment.
“The nice thing about football is that everyone can have an opinion,” he said. “Because it (a rebuild) happened at Arsenal and at United everyone thinks that’s the only truth there is.
“Other managers have been successful in their first season. After Pep Guardiola at Barcelona came Luis Enrique – and he won the treble as well. So it’s not impossible. It’s about the team you inherit. Was the United team at the end of a certain era?
“It’s so hard to compare things in football, never mind comparing things 10 years on when the Premier League has changed so much. The players have all had a very good season, worked very hard and surprised me in how much they want to do as a team to be as consistent as they are.”
With a national holiday back in Holland, Slot’s family and friends have organized a trip to Anfield in advance. His parents Jennie and Arend will be cheering from their home in Holland, watching the game on TV.
Earlier this year, Slot’s father suggested that perhaps Liverpool could inject some thrills into their awe-inspiring consistency that sees them leading by 12 points. But don’t expect any over-the-top celebrations from the manager when his squad crosses the finish line.
Slot commented: “I enjoyed it a lot when Feyenoord won the title – but I don’t go crazy. It wasn’t like I ran three times around the stadium. I was just very, very happy inside and I shared my emotions with the people around me and the fans. I will never be the one who is the loudest or the weirdest in the moment. I’m just not like that.”
