Liverpool’s departing assistant supervisor, Pep Lijnders, has recalled how Arne Slot “got here to his home in Holland about 9 years in the past” and requested “a thousand questions.”
Not like when Alex Ferguson was changed by David Moyes at Man United, Jurgen Klopp hasn’t had a say within the identification of Liverpool’s subsequent supervisor.
Klopp doesn’t know Slot personally, although they’ve had a name because the Dutchman took over. Nevertheless, Lijnders is way nearer to his compatriot.
The brand new Purple Bull Salzburg supervisor revealed to Athletic that he “is aware of Arne very well.”
The pair first met when Slot was among the many backroom workers at Cambuur.
Talking to journalist James Pearce, Lijnders mentioned: “He got here to my home in Holland about 9 years in the past.
“He got here to talk to me about soccer. He drove for a very long time to see me and he had a thousand questions. I attempted to reply all of them!
“Since then, we’ve stayed in shut contact. He’s an unbelievable coach, who is aware of precisely what he needs and has the expertise to be at a membership like Liverpool.”
With Slot on the helm, the now ex-Liverpool coach is optimistic for the Reds’ future. Liverpool’s squad is stuffed with younger expertise and Lijnders thinks Slot will ‘slot’ straight in.
“There are similarities between Feyenoord and Liverpool. Their followers are so passionate. In addition they sing You’ll By no means Stroll Alone,” added Klopp’s right-hand man.
“You want a coach like Arne who’s near what we tried to do through the years, by way of having the ball within the opposition half, urgent, counter-pressing — he’s very strategical in that standpoint.
“He’s made good steps and now it’s the prospect for him to make one other huge step.
“Once I spoke with Mike (Gordon) and Jurgen, I mentioned you want a younger coach who can develop with this new workforce. Arne has the whole lot in him to be successful right here.”
Changing Lijnders as assistant must be Sipke Hulshoff. He has already stepped down as Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands assistant and is predicted to depart Feyenoord too.
He hasn’t but been formally introduced as a Liverpool worker, although.
