Arne Slot continues his pattern of downplaying Liverpool’s achievements and emphasizing his role in bringing the Reds back to winning ways, this time by discussing what would happen if the storied English club failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Liverpool slipped to sixth place in the Premier League after a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
The Reds are preparing for a crucial match against Sunderland, and in this context, Slot addressed the possibility of Champions League qualification next season, saying, “If we don’t qualify for the Champions League, then this season will certainly not be acceptable.”
He added, pointing out that he arrived at Liverpool when they weren’t in the Champions League and then turned things around, saying, “When I arrived here, we’d only been able to sign Federico Chiesa, and that was after a season in the Europa League. Obviously, that (not being in the Champions League) has had a huge impact on the way this club is run, and we’re fully aware of that.”
Slott has faced a wide range of challenges this season, but he’s confident his team can achieve “something special” in the Champions League and the FA Cup. However, he admitted that this has been the most difficult season of his ten years as a manager.
He commented, “It’s by far the most difficult because all the other seasons I’ve had as a manager have been purely positive. I don’t think I’ve ever lost two games in a row before, so this season is exceptional for me as much as it is for the players.”
“The players aren’t used to so many losses or draws, and I’m not used to it either. So, yes, this season has been more challenging for me, but you also take positive things from it—it might sound strange—because I also see the extent of the improvement we’re making,” he added.
It’s worth noting that English media outlets are suggesting Slott could be sacked if the team loses to Sunderland or fails to progress beyond the Champions League round of 16.
