Arne Slot is already establishing a repute as a straight talker within the early weeks of his reign as Liverpool head coach, and he’s given a usually candid evaluation of his ‘relationship’ with Erik ten Hag forward of the journey to Manchester United on Sunday.
The 2 Dutch tacticians go head-to-head at Outdated Trafford this weekend of their first aggressive assembly in English soccer, having confronted one another within the Eredivisie beforehand and in a pre-season pleasant with their present golf equipment initially of this month.
The Reds boss was requested about his United counterpart on this morning’s press convention, and he declared that whereas he has huge respect for the 54-year-old, he stopped in need of describing it as a friendship.
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Slot stated (by way of Liverpool Echo): “It’s pretty much as good and regular a relationship as I’ve with different managers. The connection I might name it excellent; all of us respect one another as a result of what the managers did at their former golf equipment.
“Mates? No, mates is one thing else however it’s an excellent relationship. A pal is somebody you see loads and go to dinner. We don’t know one another properly sufficient.”
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Slot wasn’t sugarcoating that he views Ten Hag as a revered compatriot quite than a pal, though it’s not precisely in the identical ballpark because the open animosity between Rafael Benitez and Alex Ferguson within the late 2000s, or Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger all through their Chelsea v Arsenal days.
The 2 Dutchmen have come up towards one another 4 occasions within the Eredivisie, with a 50-50 cut up of victories and defeats (one apiece at house, one every away), though the Liverpool boss took an early psychological edge with the 3-0 win over United in pre-season in South Carolina.
He and we shall be hoping for the same outcome on Sunday, though the 45-year-old is properly conscious that the setting shall be very totally different this weekend, as will the aggressive edge which comes with a gathering of two everlasting rivals within the Premier League.
Slot and Ten Hag will little question share a mutually appreciative handshake earlier than and after the match on Sunday, however for the 2 hours or so in between, any amicability shall be put to at least one facet within the fevered pursuit of northwest bragging rights!
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