Manager adamant he feels the club’s support despite struggles this term
Arne Slot says Liverpool were always aware a rebuild was inevitable following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, despite last season’s title success delaying the transition.
Liverpool are set to lose two more key figures from the Klopp era this summer, with Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah both expected to leave on free transfers. That will leave Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez as the remaining senior players from the squad that delivered major honours under Klopp, all entering the final stages of their contracts.
Slot has come under pressure during a difficult campaign that has seen Liverpool suffer 16 defeats, but he insists the club’s leadership remains united on the need for a long-term transition. He pointed to last season’s Premier League title as having delayed what was always going to be a period of change.
“This is one of the things we are aligned on – not now, but one and a half years ago,” Slot said. “It is normal in football that you have cycles. I’m really happy that Mo and Robbo have worked with all of the signings we did last summer because they have been able to see what the club means to them and how hard they work.
“That is a normal process at successful clubs, or any club, that there is an end to a cycle. That’s not something that is new to us. The great thing is that we maybe postponed that cycle with last season.”
Despite the team’s struggles, Slot maintains he has the backing of the club’s hierarchy, including sporting director Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, as well as owners Fenway Sports Group.
Slot said: “It’s not about every day they are saying: ‘We support you, we support you.’ It is talking through what we see is happening and, sometimes, it is not always needed to say: ‘I am supporting you,’ but you can feel that support. I’ve felt that support since I’ve been here.
“I cannot tell you what we are saying to each other but I think, and I don’t know what people are writing, but I think we all see the same.
“By that I mean the ownership, Richard, Michael, everyone. Everyone sees what is happening in front of our eyes and we are all aligned in what we are seeing. We are definitely aligned in what we are seeing and on the reasons for it.”
