Arne Slot: “What Impressed Me Most Was the Mental State”
Arne Slot reacts to Liverpool’s victory against Newcastle United.
28 down and 10 to go for Liverpool Football Club in the Premier League. A victory for them against Newcastle United combined with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest canceling each other out in a scoreless draw to leave the Reds 13 points clear at the top of the table.
Liverpool won at home by two goals to none, with both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai scoring. This came after a run of some tough games all lined up in rapid succession.
When asked about the victory after the game, Slot was quick to point this out.
“What impressed me most was that this was our fifth game in 15 days and the four before weren’t the most simple ones,” he said.
“So, Everton we all know how an emotional game that was for both teams but definitely for us as well and then Wolves and then two difficult away games with [Aston] Villa and [Manchester] City. To show up the way we did tonight, hardly conceding a chance against a very good team like Newcastle, is a big compliment for the players [in] how they handled these five games in 15 days.”
They now have a full week off, which you might think would be good thing to the boss, but he begs to differ.
He admitted, “That’s why I’m still a bit disappointed that we don’t play on the weekend because, of course, Mo [Salah] wouldn’t have played, of course Virgil [van Dijk] wouldn’t have played but it would have been an ideal moment for the likes of Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Federico Chiesa and all the others to get some playing time as well to keep them ready for the end phase of the season.”
Finally, Slot acknowledged the negative rumblings from outside after some disappointing result. Slot praised their mentality and ability to weather that criticism and hopefully make them strong enough to see out the season strong.
“I think what impressed me most was the mental strength in both games. Because after Everton, a bit [after] Wolves, maybe a bit after the Villa game, people started to question us a bit and normally when players or people get questions, you always see extra work-rate,” he said.
“That’s quite normal and what I saw us doing against City. But if you get a lot, a lot, a lot of compliments, eight out of 10 people get a bit complacent – but only the ones that want to achieve something don’t.”
The return of the Champions League is their next big hurdle. Liverpool will take on PSG next week in the first of the knockout rounds.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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