Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool FC, recently defended his players’ decision to enjoy a celebratory trip to Dubai after clinching the Premier League title. The squad embarked on this getaway following a gripping 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield. This trip, he asserts, played an essential role in preparing for their upcoming match against Brighton & Hove Albion, scheduled for Monday.
After their trip to the United Arab Emirates, the players returned to Merseyside by Thursday. Slot himself took a breather in Ibiza during this downtime. “We feel that it’s a very good lead-up to our game on Monday,” Slot expressed, emphasizing the importance of balancing relaxation and preparation in the wake of a title-winning season. “It’s quite difficult for a team who have already won the league to train for many days in a row. You need to find the balance between days off and preparing well for the next game.”
Slot articulated an understanding of the demands placed on his players, especially considering they hadn’t had a significant break throughout a season filled with FA Cup, League Cup, and Champions League commitments. “If you want to go away after the season, wives, girlfriends, children are like: ‘Come on, I haven’t seen my dad for such a long time…. let’s go on a family holiday,’” he noted, shedding light on the personal sacrifices players make for their careers.
Despite the celebratory trip, Slot remains cognizant of the media narrative that might arise should his team stumble against Brighton. “If we aren’t able to get a result… it will have nothing to do with players having a few days off, but that will probably be the story in the media,” he cautioned. Understanding the scrutiny athletes face is crucial, as he recalled similar situations in the Netherlands where media interpretations could dominate narratives.
This season, after clinching the title, Liverpool has unfortunately collected just one point from two matches. Slot acknowledges the challenge of motivation in a pressure-free context. “The honest answer is yes,” he admitted when discussing the difficulty of maintaining focus after securing the championship. However, he remains confident in his squad’s ability, citing their strong performance during the Arsenal match as evidence of their competitive spirit.
In the wake of recent events, one key player under scrutiny is Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool right-back faced a mixed reception from fans during his substitution in the Arsenal game, especially given his upcoming departure to Real Madrid on a free transfer. Slot addressed the situation, saying, “As you know I wasn’t here the past few days and neither was Trent. I haven’t spoken to him yet.” He emphasized the need for the club to focus on the positives of their successful season rather than being mired in individual controversies.
Moreover, Slot chose not to comment on Liverpool’s ongoing transfer activities, including discussions surrounding Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong. “It’s going to be a boring answer,” he joked, reiterating Liverpool’s strategy of keeping transfer dealings private until signings are confirmed. He did point out that the team remains well-equipped, with players like Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez capable of stepping into roles left by departing players.
