Manager has faced questions about Alonso amid “difficult period” for him and the players
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has hit back at journalists for disrespect towards head coach Arne Slot.
In his press conference on Tuesday, before the Champions League game against Marseille, Slot was asked if Xabi Alonso has contacted him.
The Liverpool legend earlier this month and has been heavily linked with the Liverpool job. Slot coached Liverpool to their 20th Premier League title last season but his side have struggled for form this season.
In response to the question, Slot joked: “He called me and told me he’ll be in charge in six months, or even sooner.”
Van Dijk was not amused by the question and after Liverpool beat Marseille 3-0 on Wednesday he slammed the journalist who asked the question.
“That question was disrespectful,” Van Dijk said. “The criticism is justified if you look at what we’ve done this season, especially compared to last season. It’s been a difficult period for the players and the coach, but he’s handled it well.”
Slot has been under heavy pressure this season after dreadful autumn form that saw Liverpool lose nine out of 12 games in all competitions. The Premier League champions have improved since and are currently boasting a 13-game unbeaten run, but this has been marred by boring performances and four consecutive draws in the league that led to supporters booing the team at Anfield last weekend.
On the back of that, Liverpool’s coach was asked by journalists this week what he needed to do to convince the fans that he could still be a success.
Slot quipped: “Do people not expect that to be possible for me, to be successful?
“If you’ve won the league at a club which has won it twice in 30 years, I am surprised to hear that, but if that is the situation then I have to accept that.”
