02 June 2024 , 15:17
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Cody Gakpo admits that he found it 'very difficult' to play against Arne Slot's teams back in the Netherlands, a promising sign for Liverpool fans.
Slot, 45, officially began his role as Liverpool manager on Saturday, handed the task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp and leading the Reds into a new era. The Dutchman previously managed Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, facing Gakpo while he played for PSV Eindhoven.
A title winner with Feyenoord in the 2022-23 season, Slot's teams had a reputation for playing direct football and pressing with high intensity, not unlike Klopp's Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund sides. In an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Gakpo drew that same comparison and gave a glowing appraisal of his new boss.
"I have not spoken to him before… [but] I do know that he has always made it very difficult for us at PSV and is known as a very good trainer, of course," the Netherlands international, who'll represent his and Slot's country at Euro 2024, explained.
When asked if Slot's style will be transferrable to Liverpool, Gakpo replied: "I think so, otherwise the club wouldn't have appointed him. If you talk about neat football and high pressure, with the latter being a very big characteristic of us under Jurgen Klopp, then that is also something we are certainly used to."
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Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld emphatically agrees with Gakpo, believing that Slot is the 'perfect fit'. "Over the years people talk about Arne in Holland and they always compared him with Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp," Westerveld, who played for the Reds between 1999 and 2001, told LFCTV.
Your turn! Will Arne Slot be a success at Liverpool? Give us your prediction in the comments section
Arne Slot arrives from Feyenoord with a glowing reputation (Peter Lous/BSR Agency/Getty Images)"He always showed Liverpool clips during training sessions and analysing games. He was showing Liverpool clips on how to play. He's playing in a similar style. It's been well-documented how he plays, what he wants in a team.
"Apart from that, he's also a genuine nice guy. He's always in for a joke, which is really important because it gives a sort of balance in the team, in the group – focus, train hard, have a laugh when you can. Take the pressure off certain situations but never lose the focus on winning games.
"It's easy to motivate the first XI but if you talk about the players that are on the bench, 12 to 25, they're all happy with him as well in all the clubs he's trained, so that's really important and says enough as well."
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