Arne Slot Defends Controversial Champions League Comments
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has claimed his critics "aren't listening properly" and are attempting to make his comments appear "ridiculous" after his remarks about last season's Champions League exit sparked a significant backlash this week. The Dutch coach has directly addressed the controversy following his team's convincing victory over Qarabag, which secured their place in this season's Champions League last sixteen.
The Controversial Statement
On Tuesday, Slot suggested that Liverpool's elimination from last season's Champions League might have contributed to their Premier League title success. "Maybe the reason why we won the league last season is that we had to play Paris Saint-Germain in the last sixteen," he stated. "As you know, they beat us, and we had every time a week to prepare for our next game. Maybe that has helped us."
This interpretation was immediately seized upon by numerous supporters and pundits, who viewed the comments as suggesting the Liverpool boss was pleased with European elimination to boost domestic title chances. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard strongly disagreed with Slot's assessment during his analysis for TNT Sport, describing the remarks as "a body blow for the fans."
Slot's Detailed Clarification
Following Thursday's European victory, Slot addressed the issue directly and comprehensively. When questioned whether his PSG comments had been taken out of context, he responded emphatically: "Not a little bit, a lot. I have always tried to be myself and give long answers in a different language. Maybe you miss a certain word. I am not gonna change, not gonna say yes or no only, this is who I am."
The Liverpool manager then provided a detailed explanation of his original comments: "I said that it might – might, I used the word might but apparently not everybody is listening properly – have helped us that we lost against Paris Saint-Germain. I was not happy losing against Paris Saint-Germain, I wanted to go all the way with that team; that team was strong enough to win the Champions League as well."
Slot emphasised that Liverpool were "by far the best team in the league" and completely deserved their Premier League title. However, he clarified his point about squad management: "But if you are the best team in the league, then you need those players available. This season shows that if we have to play many games, sometimes you can get injuries as well. And that's what I meant: we did not face injuries after we went out against Paris Saint-Germain."
Addressing Specific Criticisms
The Liverpool manager directly responded to those who pointed out Liverpool's substantial lead in the title race last season: "Some people wanted to make my words even more ridiculous, saying that we were fifteen points clear – yes, we were maybe in one moment fifteen points clear, but most of the time we were eight points clear. If you then face a situation of three, four, five injuries, it might have been more difficult for us."
Slot concluded his clarification by stating: "But we were the best team in the league and we could have won the Champions League as well. We would have loved to go to the next round last season, but this club, it's harder if we have injuries than the clubs we are in competition with. That was the point I was trying to make but people picked it up in the wrong way, so maybe next time I should be a bit more clear in what I meant."
Broader Context and Pressure
This controversy emerges during a challenging period for Slot at Liverpool, with the team experiencing inconsistent performances and patchy league form this season. The Reds are currently scrambling to secure qualification for next season's Champions League, adding significant pressure to their remaining fixtures.
Liverpool will aim to maintain the positive momentum from their Qarabag victory when they face Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday, with Slot hoping his clarified position will allow the team to focus fully on their crucial domestic and European commitments.
