Arne Slott insists Mohamed Salah’s impending departure will not lead to a drop in standards at Liverpool and urged young stars to step up going forward.
Arne Slott believes his young stars can lead Liverpool’s standard (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Arne Slott insists Liverpool don’t need a slew of senior professionals to set the standard for the club, citing how Desiree Douye and Hviča Kvaratscheria laid the foundations at PSG.
Mohamed Salah will be leaving Anfield for the Reds this summer. The Egyptian was known for his strict training and recovery standards throughout his time at Liverpool, often posting pictures of himself taking ice baths late at night.
Slott’s team is in the midst of a rebuild, with many top players leaving or preparing to leave. Andy Robertson is also set to leave, Trent Alexander-Arnold also left last summer and goalkeeper Alisson has also been linked with a move to Italy.
However, Liverpool’s manager is not worried and believes some of his young players can step up, citing PSG as an example, with the European champions often relying on some of their young stars.
He said: “It’s not just the senior players who set the standards for the club. If you look at Paris Saint-Germain, Desire Douai is 20 years old and Hvitya Kvaratskhelia is 25 years old. Could they set the standards for another generation or team? By the way, we don’t know what time they are in the gym.”
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“And this is what Mo did when he was 26, and this is what other players did when they were here. I don’t think it’s because of age that only 32- and 33-year-old players can set the standard. They have lived experience and know what it takes to play at this level.”
“But, look, we’re not talking about Florian Wirtz or Hugo Ekitike or Alexander Isak or all the players we’ve signed. They’re not kids. They’re serious professionals who know what it takes to play at this level. They know what it takes to play at this level now in the Premier League or the Champions League. It’s only going to get better, but it’s not just about 34-year-olds.”
Hviča Kvaratscheria is PSG’s outstanding player (Image: Alexander Hassenstein, Getty Images)
The Dutchman added: “Standards are not only set by 34-year-olds. Sometimes they are set by 20-year-old players like Doué or Salah, who played for Liverpool when he was 26. It didn’t just start when he was at his current age. Age doesn’t matter.”
Frenchman Hugo Ekitike, who signed in the summer and is only 23 years old, continued to deliver despite a difficult season. Captain Virgil van Dijk will continue to be the team’s psychological leader next season, although players like Florian Wirths have not made much of an impression.
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