Arne Slot gives perfect response to Liverpool doubters after replacing Jurgen Klopp

Arne Slot was being questioned on the importance of the Carabao Cup when he delivered the perfect response to explain how well he is doing at Liverpool. It’s now early February and the Dutchman knows that he will now be judged on how many trophies the Reds win this season. When he replaced Jurgen Klopp last summer, many were doubting if the Reds could keep pace with the top teams having lost their iconic leader.

There were debates on whether or not they’d even finish in the Champions League places. Many were waiting to see how far they’d fall. Now just over halfway through Slot’s debut campaign, they’re leading the Premier League title race, in the last-16 of the European Cup with an FA Cup fourth round tie against Plymouth to come. But, of course, Thursday night is the first chance of getting to a final as they host Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-final. They’re looking to retain the trophy they lifted last February but some football snobs may believe it to be the lesser of the pots up for grabs for English clubs. But winning trophies is what clubs like Liverpool are built on. Every trophy matters. Quite rightly, too.

“It's already quite nice that we've already come to the situation that it's only success if we win a trophy,” said Slot. “I think when I started off over here, people were like, okay, if we end up number 10 we're already happy. “That's a bit exaggerated… but people were a bit worried about what will happen after Jurgen. So now we're already in the situation where if we win the League Cup it is not enough anymore? Is that what you are saying?.

“For me, the only thing that is important is that every time the players go out they work very hard and try to win every single game. And do this in a certain playing style. “That is where my main focus is on and I have been long enough in this job that if you focus on trophies or results, that's not gonna be very successful. We have to focus on how we play. It sounds so simple, but to work as hard as this team does every three days is far from simple.

“That is where my main focus is on and not on how many trophies or even if we win a trophy. But I do want to win the League Cup.”. Slot knows it is trophies and medals which are counted at big clubs like Liverpool. But he gets as much joy out of entertaining the fans. The Reds will have to be exciting to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg last month. And when Slot means entertain, he means winning as well. But while he wants to win trophies, he always wants to make the fans desperate to watch his side. In life, it's not only about winning trophies. I have to steal something Jurgen said. It is also very important that the fans leave the stadium thinking: ‘When do they play again?’.

“I like that sentence a lot because I would love us as managers being judged more on that than only on trophies. How do they play? Is it nice to watch them? Are the fans looking forward to the next game already?. “I agree that we are more mostly judged on the trophies we win, but I judge myself and the players on work rate and the quality they bring during every single game.”. Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.