Liverpool cruised to the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season in charge and now Mohamed Salah has detailed the main differences between the Dutchman and predecessor Jurgen Klopp
Mohamed Salah has claimed Arne Slot‘s laser-focused attention to detail and flexibility with his tactics are the main differences from his previous boss Jurgen Klopp. The Dutchman has guided Liverpool to the Premier League title at the first time of asking with four games remaining and Salah was key to their triumph.
The Egyptian has netted 28 goals in the top flight after Slot took his performances to another level after previously flourishing under predecessor Klopp.
The German boss won the Premier League, Champions League and three domestic cups during his time at Anfield, but Slot took his team and upgraded it following his arrival. Salah has now been discussing the main differences between the two coaches and pointed out how Slot is not married to his tactics.
“A few games in the second half he always changed what the tactic is,” he told Sky Sports. “He’s adapting somehow to how our opponent play, putting Dom [Szoboszlai] in different positions, Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] in different positions. He doesn’t have that ego that ‘these are my tactics’. In my head that’s very clever.”
Salah also said Slot made sure he had more time with the ball at his feet – allowing him to be more creative and giving him more confidence in the process.
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“Now I’m involved more with the ball at my feet, I feel that confidence,” he said. “If you miss it you can have it again. That’s what a player needs. I know I can create a chance. Before I won playmaker of the year [back in 2021-22)]. I believed I had the ability but now I have the ball more often at my feet and I can do it more easily.”
The 33-year-old also pointed out Slot’s attention to detail, revealing how he analysed Salah’s body language and work ethic during a pre-season warm-up and urged him to give more.
“He showed me a few videos of myself in the warm-up. Players were in national teams and I wasn’t so I came early with the younger players, started the pre-season earlier and I did a warm-up.
“I was like quite slow, didn’t do much. Then he showed me, ‘look at the second [player] after he sees you take it easy, look at the third one’. Then you see the whole line walking like me and he said, ‘that’s your influence on the team’.”
“We had a few honest conversations between us. He was very honest, showed me a few clips of mine and said, ‘with this Mo, we can win everything. With this Mo we can’t win much. I want to get the best out of you, I want this one to be available the whole season and your best year to come with me.”
Salah completed his incredible year with Liverpool despite doubts lingering over his future before signing a new contract at Anfield for another two years.
When asked why he decided to extend his deal, he said: “I signed here because I believe we can win a lot of big trophies together. “I would like to say to [the fans], I am very, very happy to be here. Keep supporting us and we’ll give it our best, and hopefully in the future we’re going to win more trophies.”
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