Manager says the kind of pressure and criticism he has faced comes with the job
Arne Slot says he expects to remain in charge of Liverpool next season despite all the criticism levelled on him in a disappointing campaign.
Liverpool were booed off at Anfield after last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, with supporters turning against the manager and team after another poor performance. Slot’s future at the club has long been questioned, although the hierarchy are still understood to support the Dutchman, who won the Premier League title in his first season at the club.
Liverpool travel to Aston Villa on Friday knowing a win would secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Asked if he expected to remain Liverpool manager next season, Slot said: “I don’t think I am deciding that alone by myself, but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season. First of all, I am contracted to this club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it.”
“But if you don’t have the best season, especially if you compare with last season – if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate – then this has definitely not been a great season and it is also normal that criticism comes.
“We have all had our share, and with ‘all’ I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don’t win the league.”
Slot also said he remains closely involved in preparations for next season, including transfer discussions and preseason planning.
“We know where we go on tour, our plans have been made, and talks have been ongoing between the club and new players and I am involved in that,” Slot said.
The Liverpool coach acknowledged that pressure and criticism are part of modern football management.
“If a manager or a club doesn’t have their best season there is always a debate about that,” Slot said. “It is not only Liverpool, it is all around the world.
“It is not up to me to judge the people who judge me. They have every right to have their opinion and in this modern time everyone can share his opinion as well.
“By the way, this happened 10, 15 years ago as well but then you did it in a pub and not everyone heard it. Now it is also probably done in the pub – if I read what they are saying they must have drunk a little bit! That is a joke, by the way.
“Now it is more out in the open than it was back in the days, and that is everywhere the same so I would be surprised if that had been different here at Liverpool.”
