Arne Slot believes he will remain the Liverpool manager next season as he directly addressed speculation over his future at Anfield. Slot has faced fierce scrutiny following the Reds’ deeply disappointing defence of the Premier League title they claimed so convincingly last season.
Liverpool are yet to secure Champions League qualification and still require three points from their final two fixtures – away at Aston Villa on Friday and at home to Brentford on the final weekend. Former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso has been persistently linked with a move to take over as Liverpool manager ever since being dismissed by Real Madrid in January after barely six months at the helm of the Bernabeu. And former midfielder Danny Murphy this week declared that Slot’s time is up.
He said: “I think Slot’s time is probably up. I think he’s a good guy and a very bright coach, but the reality is Liverpool’s fanbase is as powerful as any out there, for all sorts of reasons. I think we are looking at an inevitable departure whether it is now or a few months into the season.”
Yet Slot has been making preparations for next season fully expecting to retain his position. “I don’t think I am deciding that alone by myself, but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season,” the Dutchman vowed.
“First of all, I am contracted to this club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it. But if you don’t have the best season, especially if you compare with last season – if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate – but if you compare it with last season, this has definitely not been a great season, then it is also normal that criticism comes.
“We have all had our share, and with ‘all’ I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don’t win the league.”
Slot added: “I think the world has gone to if a manager or a club doesn’t have their best season there is always a debate about that, it is not only Liverpool it is all around the world.
“That is the new reality in football. It is not up to me to judge the people who judge me, they have every right to have their opinion and in this modern time everyone can share his opinion as well.
“By the way, this happened 10, 15 years ago as well but then you did it in a pub and not everyone heard it. Now it is also probably done in the pub – if I read what they are saying they must have drunk a little bit!
“Now it is more out in the open than it was back in the days, and that is everywhere the same so I would be surprised if that had been different here at Liverpool.”
Slot has also revealed he has already participated in discussions with potential new signings ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
“We know where we go on tour, so our plans have been made and talks have been ongoing between the club and new players and I am involved in that,” he said.