Jamie Carragher met Liverpool head coach Arne Slott over the summer break and the Dutchman curiously introduced the former defender to his wife and children as a “Champions League winner”, a moment that struck a chord with pundits. The Reds clinched Premier League glory last season but their European ambitions were dashed in the last 16 by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The Merseyside club boasts a great European tradition and have established themselves as England’s most accomplished team on the continent, having last won Europe in 2019. Slott was keen to make his mark in the Champions League and Carragher observed that when he met the Liverpool manager and his family, it was his exploits, particularly in Europe, that led to his introduction to the club.
Carragher was part of the legendary 2005 team that produced the Istanbul Miracle. He would then play in another final two years later, but the former player believes that Slott’s thirst for European glory is burning hot.
He told Sky Sports: “Last summer, I happened to meet Slott when we were both on holiday. We were with our families, so I thanked him for what I had done last season and he introduced me to his wife and children as the Champions League winner.
“I felt like he was hinting that that was the next step. I felt it exactly as he said it. We won the league but now we want the Champions League and that’s what’s on my mind. You know he wants that.”
Liverpool hosted both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Anfield, winning three of their opening four games in this year’s competition.
The last time they reached a final was in 2022 under Jurgen Klopp, and Carragher admits that given the big summer spending, a place in the semi-finals will be the minimum goal and expectations will rise.
Despite defeating PSG in the first leg in the French capital last season, the defeat at Anfield resulted in a penalty shootout, which the Parisian side claimed.
PSG were widely praised for their approach last season, defeating Aston Villa and Arsenal before defeating Inter Milan in the final.
And Carragher has observed that Slott admires the Parisian club, even suggesting he could accept losing to PSG in the Champions League given their style of play.
“I think Slott is a bit obsessed with the Champions League,” he said. “Last season, he talked a lot about PSG after losing to PSG and he talked about them so much that he praised the loss to that team and the fact that PSG won. And the way they won, the way they played in the final, I think he loves a coach whose team plays like that.”
