The impending transfer of Arne Slot to Liverpool is causing quite a stir in England. The coach will be leaving Feyenoord for The Reds, but not everyone is excited about his arrival.
In the beIN Sports studio on Saturday, there was a lively debate about Arne Slot, whose transfer to Liverpool is reportedly nearing completion.
John Obi Mikel, a long-serving Chelsea player, was the lone voice in favor of Slot. He praised the coach, saying, "He is a fantastic coach who has done a great job at Feyenoord. He makes the team play the kind of football that Liverpool fans also want to see: attacking, pressing forward, lots of goals."
However, former professional and presenter Andy Gray expressed skepticism. He remarked that Mikel’s description of Slot mirrored the early praise Erik ten Hag received at Manchester United, which has not yet been fully realized. Mikel retorted, "The difference is that Liverpool has the players to play that kind of football," suggesting that Slot's tactics would be a better fit at Liverpool than Ten Hag’s have been at United.
Gray was unconvinced about the buzz surrounding Slot, expressing his surprise at the choice: "I really have no idea where Slot's name suddenly came from. If you had asked me to guess thirty times two weeks ago who would succeed Jürgen Klopp, I wouldn't have mentioned him." His sentiments were echoed by co-presenter Richard Keys, who tried to empathize with Liverpool supporters, saying, "I am surprised, but not impressed. I can’t name a Dutch coach who has succeeded in the Premier League. Maybe Hiddink or Van Gaal, but no one who has had long-term success. Arne Slot is a disguised Erik ten Hag," implying that Slot might not live up to the expectations at Liverpool.
Adding to the debate, former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel also weighed in, questioning the merit of Slot's recent record with Feyenoord, who are nine points behind league leaders PSV. "Is that really so great?" he asked, highlighting doubts about whether Slot’s achievements at Feyenoord were sufficient to warrant a move to a club with the stature and expectations of Liverpool.
The studio discussion reflected a mix of anticipation and skepticism regarding Slot’s potential impact at Liverpool, underscoring the challenges and pressures that come with managing one of the top clubs in the Premier League.
