Arne Slot serenaded the fans at Anfield with almost the same song that Jurgen Klopp sang as the latter introduced the former as his successor.
Slot took over for Klopp after the German manager elected to take time away from football, and after his final match, Klopp sang a song to Reds fans to help welcome the Dutchman to Anfield. Liverpool fans also sang to Slot after winning the Premier League title for the second time in 35 years.
As the celebrations continued, the Dutchman also was in a mood to show off his signing skills. Speaking to the crowd on hand, Slot made sure to address his predecessor and give him his flowers as the 46-year-old celebrated with his players and his coaching staff amid the triumph.
“It feels great but I don’t think I want to say a lot. The only thing I can do now is send my appreciation to Jurgen,” he said before breaking out into song. “Jurgen Klopp! La, la, la, la. Jurgen Klopp! La, la, la, la”
The song is written to the tune of ‘Life is Life’ by the Austrian group Opus, with Klopp and Slot following the same structure of the chorus. During his final address to the fans, Klopp explained: You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me. You go all-in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team.
“People told me that I turned them from doubters to believers. That’s not true. Believing is an active act: you have to do it yourself. I just said we have to. You did it. That’s a big difference.” And now, almost 12 months later, Slot has achieved the prediction that Klopp claimed was due for the club.
(Image: Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
After the 5-1 thumping of Tottenham, the Liverpool manager spoke to NBC Sports about the scenes at Anfield, with the Dutchman claiming what he was experiencing with his players and the fans was “brilliant” and “unreal.” “You’re so focused on the game and on the result, getting that point, that during the whole game you’re so focused on that you want to achieve it,” he shared.
“Then probably the last 15 to 20 [minutes] it felt quite comfortable, and the atmosphere was brilliant. And the moment the referee blows his whistle, you know we did it.” Slot also noted how it was a shame that not all the fans can experience the emotions and camaraderie inside the stadium.
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However, he stated that despite how the club has managed in recent weeks, Slot clarified what was going his and his players’ minds as they clinched the Premier League title. “It’s always difficult if you are so far ahead, and everybody is expecting you to win,” he added. “You want to do it on the first occasion, because if you don’t, it’s another week waiting, it’s another week waiting.
“So very, very pleased for the players, but definitely also for the fans that we could do it today, because the last time we won it, the fans couldn’t be there. So that’s why I think this was the only outcome we could have: To win it today.”
With four matches remaining, Liverpool are 15 points ahead of Arsenal in the table. Additionally, Slot is fifth (82) in most points won by a manager in their first season in English football, behind only Jose Mourinho (95), Antonio Conte (93), Carlo Ancelotti (86) and Manuel Pellegrini (86).
