Liverpool easily reached the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over Galatasaray, but Arne Slott was not satisfied with the first half of the second leg.
Arne Slott reveals his frustration after the match (Image: Alex Pantling – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Liverpool manager Arne Slott has explained why he was so angry during the first half of his Reds’ 4-0 home win over Galatasaray. Slott, 47, was unusually animated on the touchline and made his feelings clear to substitute Szymon Marciniak over a numbers decision.
Marciniak was scheduled to referee the Champions League game, but due to an injury, he replaced Pawel Laszkowski as referee. Poland’s Raszkowski was booed repeatedly after Galatasaray players stopped and urged him to stop the match.
Slott was visibly frustrated and his anger reached new heights literally when Liverpool were denied a penalty in the first half when Hugo Ekitike went down in the penalty area. The Dutchman was seen jumping up and down and shouting at Marciniak.
After the match, Slott talked about why he had to express his feelings. “Incredibly often I see opponents come to Anfield just to lie on the ground,” the Reds manager explained.
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“I was also watching the match against Juventus, and in the first half the Galatasaray players were on the ground 14 times. That means the game stops every three minutes, so there is no rhythm at all.
“It wasn’t because I was stressed, but I felt it was important to show that this can’t be tolerated. I just wanted to create something, to let everyone know that we need to protect football.”
“It’s not good for football to be heading in this direction. That’s why I tried to make it clear in my words and gestures that this is very upsetting for football. That’s why I’m glad we didn’t get carried away.”
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Arne Slott was furious at Galatasaray’s actions (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Fortunately for Liverpool, Galatasaray’s antics did not prevent them from progressing to the quarter-finals, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain, who were eliminated from last season’s Champions League. “This was everything you wanted to see,” Slott continued.
“From the first moment to the last, the players gave their all. They created many chances that the team had never created in a game before. It’s rare for a team to score four times and still be below xG (expected goals).”
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