Arne Slot has completed an extraordinary first season at Liverpool, since replacing former boss Jurgen Klopp last summer. His good friend and ex-teammate, Bram van Polen , has been left astounded by Slot’s swift ascendance into a position of such influence with the Reds.
Slot guided Liverpool to secure a 20th English top-flight title on Sunday with a spectacular 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, during a campaign in which his side has suffered only two Premier League defeats.
Van Polen, who shared the field with Slot at PEC Zwolle, expressed his amazement over how the Dutchman is perceived in England comparing it to his reputation back home, stating on ESPN NL: “Yes, the weird thing there is just how they look at him now.
“In England it’s already such a, in terms of hierarchy, say, he’s totally really the boss. Really the big boss there. And you don’t see that at all in the Netherlands. Never mind that that is also perhaps one of the biggest clubs in the world at the moment.”
In showing gratitude for the confidence placed in him, Slot acknowledged Liverpool’s principal owner John Henry for his instrumental trust. The Fenway Sports Group leader was in attendance at Anfield to witness the championship victory.
Discussing his post-match interaction with Henry on the pitch, when prompted about what Henry had told him, Slot jokingly assumed: “Probably congratulations!
“I don’t remember exactly what he said. It was special for them (FSG) as well I think to be part of this moment, for them to trust me in this position.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“Maybe now everybody says it made complete sense but the moment they signed me maybe not everyone was as confident as everyone is now.
“That tells you also what a special club this is that they don’t always go for the most simple or obvious choice but they make the choice they think is best for the club.
“It must be a special moment for them as well, the second time in five years they have won the league and now to do this in front of our fans is special for everyone, including them.”
Liverpool is back in action as Premier League champions against Chelsea this weekend and still has four matches to go before getting its hands on the title, on the final day against Crystal Palace.
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Skipper Virgil van Dijk is keen for his teammates to enjoy the adulation that is coming their way. He said: “Obviously I’ve been in title races and unfortunately I’ve lost a couple. I think the key only is to focus on yourself and that’s what we tried to do. We tried to win games ahead of us, look at ourselves.
“Obviously it’s quite difficult because there’s always so many noises around us, other teams doing this and that, and results going this way and that way. But you have to try to keep your eyes on your own team, your own performances. That’s the only way, in my opinion: consistency and to success.
“I’m glad we did because that’s still the most difficult thing in life, not only in football but in life: to be consistent. And if you have that consistency, just to keep it. I’m glad we did. Like I said, we have to be proud of ourselves and enjoy it all, soak it all in.”
