Liverpool boss Arne Slot makes feelings on Johan Cruyff comparisons perfectly clear
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has insisted that he is not the new Johan Cruyff after he was likened to the Dutch genius back home in the Netherlands. Former Dutch manager Bert van Marwijk claimed Slot is implementing Cruyff’s brand of aggressive football at Liverpool after making a perfect start at Anfield.
And while Slot is humbled to be compared to such a legend, he has explained that he has not copied anyone. Instead, the 45-year-old believes his style most resembles Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp — in part because he has inherited his winning team.
"I think I have my own style," Slot said ahead of the visit of Nottingham Forest this weekend. "If you have your own style, other people always try to compare you with another style. That’s up to them. I don’t compare myself to the likes that you mention because he was so successful, as a player and a manager.
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"For me, there’s a lot to prove. It’s nice that [Van Marwijk] has some nice words for me. But I’m not working on trying to copy the style of someone else. If you want to compare it to any style, it’s more Jurgen’s style. I took over his team and kept many things the same."
So far, Slot has fitted in well at Liverpool, beating Ipswich Town and Brentford by two goals to nil and then winning 3-0 away at Manchester United. But he says there are still ways for his players to improve even further.
"There are many things, but it’s not like one big thing that we have to change completely," he continued. "I think the way we defended crosses against United was not always spot on. And the first half against Ipswich, we didn’t recognise they were putting us under pressure, one v one, so we have to see earlier that we have to play over the press.
"So although we’ve done quite well, we’re still learning day by day, trying to teach them what we can improve. A lot of things have to be done better, but there’s not one thing that we do s--- — if that’s the right word. It’s more like we do some things really well eight out of 10 times, others three out of 10, and we’re aiming for 10 out of 10 in everything."
Liverpool.com says: Slot has definitely been making changes from the way that Klopp played. The midfield set-up is different and plenty of players have noted a substantial difference in style. As Slot says, though, there is continuity; it has been an evolution rather than a revolution. That was the right path to go down and it has certainly gone very well up to now.