Curtis Jones doubles down on Arne Slot stance and 'pressure' under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
Curtis Jones has once again heaped praise on Liverpool boss Arne Slot, claiming he has lifted the pressure he used to feel with the Reds.
Jones is enjoying a fine season, having seen his role at Anfield grow since the arrival of Slot as head coach. The academy graduate has become a regular in the side, battling it out with Dominik Szoboszlai for the No. 10 role, after not quite forcing himself into Jurgen Klopp’s plans.
The midfielder has previously suggested that he prefers playing under Slot than Klopp, having raised some eyebrows during the summer when he compared the two and insisted he was at his ‘happiest’ following the former’s arrival.
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He would go on to reassert his feelings after being called up by England in November, insisting that Slot’s style of play suits him more. Now, in a conversation with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand for TNT Sports, Jones has doubled down on his previous comments by explaining how he feels he is growing as a player under Slot.
"I am growing in myself,” Jones said. “I am not going into games thinking I have to score or assist or the next game I don't play. That is how it felt before [that there was pressure]. That I had to take my chance in that hour or so, otherwise I was coming off the pitch and might not play again.”
Ferdinand responded: “Not many people understand that pressure players are under - when it is that one chance in the last six games. The manager might say there is no pressure but you know deep down you have to do something.”
Jones then replied: “That was always the thing for me here. I knew I just needed a run of games and to feel the love of the staff around me. This season, there has been a big change and I just saw it as a fresh start.
"I feel that the manager appreciates me as a player and the stuff that I do. The manager knows it’s not all about goals and assists, and appreciates the work we do without the ball."
Liverpool.com says: Jones does seem to be enjoying himself more under Slot now, and it is telling how much he clearly rates Klopp’s replacement. That’s not to say he didn’t rate the German, but certain players just suit certain bosses better.
