Liverpool boss Arne Slot has already demonstrated his ability to manage dissatisfied players, employing techniques that are said to be “worthy of gold.” Last week he confessed that he was unhappy after Italian star Federico Chiesa was removed from the Champions League squad. During the league stage, forwards will not wear Liverpool jerseys. Slots support the Italian internationally young genius Ling Moha.
Despite scoring the Reds’ decisive goal on the opening day against Bournemouth last month, Chiesa has seen playtime totaling under 50 minutes, despite appearing in all four of Liverpool’s first league matches. If the Reds had secured Mark Guehe on the deadline day, Chiesa might have cut it. This is due to new recruit Giovan Nileoni who doesn’t qualify for Liverpool’s homemade spots as the slots didn’t require an additional defender.
Ultimately, Chiesa went against Slot’s decision, and the Dutch manager admitted that the decision had caused dissatisfaction ahead of Sunday’s victory over Burnley.
“Of course, that’s one of the most difficult things you have to do as a manager,” admitted Slot.
“For players who don’t play, it’s not always easy to tell them, but not on a team is always difficult. I explained to him why we made this choice. Of course, he wasn’t happy with it.
“I think he understood my argument. That’s not to say he agreed with them. He wasn’t saying he didn’t agree with them!
“But he gave me the answer you want to hear from the players, and he will be there to help the teams in the Cup and League.
“That’s one thing to say, but I think he showed this because he wasn’t chosen, but he’s been working hard recently to prepare for the upcoming days, which is even more important than what players say to you.”
Panathinaikos striker Cyriel Dessers believes slots have experience dealing with such sensitive situations, and his person management expertise is likely to stop the tensions that have become out of control.
Deserz found himself in a similar predicament earlier when Slot made a controversial call to Ax his key striker at Faye Node. However, he successfully translated the forward’s mindset through his candid discussions about team buses, and ultimately proved important.
“When I was in Fayenod, there was an Arne slot that started with Brian Linsen on my behalf against Heyenven, which was very disappointed,” Deserz said.
“I came ten minutes before the end. It was frozen and cold. The match was already over. No one really wanted to move forward.
“After the match, slot was sitting next to me on the bus. I had a manager who was angry in such a situation. But he actually said in a very normal, calm way, he understood how I felt.
“He also explained why he made the choice. I apologized and said again that he could imagine my feelings. I went back behind the bus and felt like it was out of my system.
“I still look back at that one conversation, and there, Arne proved to me that he is not only a good manager, but also a good person. I sometimes miss that empathy in football with the media.
“The world of soccer is difficult and sometimes unreasonable. So if you have a manager who is honest, understands and treats you normally, then money is worth the weight.”
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