Before Jürgen Klopp steps down as manager of Liverpool and Arne Slot takes over at Feyenoord, Rafael Benítez has sent him a piece of advice. The agreement has now been verified.
Arne Slot has been advised by former Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez, who won the Champions League with the Reds in 2005, to make sure he completely comprehends the club’s ethos upon arriving from Feyenoord this summer, following in Jürgen Klopp’s footsteps.
In a column for The Telegraph, Benítez stated, “You have to learn quickly what it means to be the Liverpool manager, no matter what you think you know.” “You’re supposed to win every game. After that, if you are doing well and winning, it is expected that you will win by three goals.”
However, Slot has already taken steps to lessen the strain that will be placed on him when he signs a deal with Liverpool on June 1. “That also would have been the case if I had stayed at Feyenoord,” he said to Algemeen Dagblad the previous week. “High expectations are also present in De Kuip. People anticipate successful outcomes and good football. That has frequently worked, but you are always improving as a trainer.”
But the level of scrutiny at Liverpool when he joins will be very different. Slot needs to make sure he is prepared for the demanding nature of the work because the club is one of the biggest and most watched in the world. When David Moyes arrived at Manchester United, that was something that caught him off guard, and it was the beginning of the end before he had even really established himself at Old Trafford.
“Working with the media is a significant component of the job,” Benítez added. “What is written and said about Liverpool, or what they refer to as ‘the noise,’ cannot be ignored. It’s not feasible. At press conferences, you will often be questioned on what the pundits are saying, so you should be aware of what they are saying. It is preferable to prepare with knowledge.
“The challenge nowadays is social media’s influence, as so many individuals who are ignorant of football spread false information. That is more complicated, and you have to distinguish between the opinions of the majority of supporters and those of the vocal minority.
Accordingly, there is a great deal of contact and genuine supporter connection. At a football team, there are numerous individuals with various titles, and many of them might believe they are the “boss.” However, there is just one person whose face is in front of the audience before and after games, in press conferences, once, twice, or three times a week.
Accordingly, there is a great deal of contact and genuine supporter connection. At a football team, there are numerous individuals with various titles, and many of them might believe they are the “boss.” However, there is just one person whose face is in front of the audience before and after games, in press conferences, once, twice, or three times a week.
“Sending the appropriate message and handling that pressure are really important. The most important thing I can tell Arne, or any manager for that matter, is to be oneself but also to be aware of the club’s and the city’s cultures.”
According to Liverpool.com, Benítez is 100% correct. The biggest concern that looms around Slot as a Klopp replacement is how large of a step up it will be for him in terms of scrutiny and pressure.
Fans are sure to warm to his demeanour and tactical fit, but it will be difficult to gauge exactly how effectively he will handle the demands of the position until he has had some time on the job. No amount of information or background investigations on his persona can definitively say that.
