Mr.Arne Slot is taking England by storm, he even leads the European Champions league, log. What manner of coach is this guy?
On current form he is a coach you wouldn't want to play against because he is a like a chameleon that changes it's colour to blend in. He is ready to beat you at your own style of play!
How does one match this coach?
What stands out a lot about Slot is the balance his team has, which I properly explained in a previous post. It is a controlled looking team, knowing exactly when to up the ante and when to slow down. It's a delicate balance that they seem to have mastered artfully and steady triumph has been the result most often than not.
If we take two coaches who Slot met in the EPL, two who play something similar to Slot.
Firstly, the Professor himself, Pep Guardiola loves possession and positioning too. He will maintain possession for long periods, playing at a slow pace until he moves the opponent out of position and creates a gap to exploit.
Then there's the Tottenham boss, Ange Postecoglou, who is very aggressive in style– he constantly tries to create transitions, whether artificially through possession or when he loses the ball, he presses hard and creates transitions that are very difficult to stop. However these transitions often leave his team exposed to attacks.
Enter Slot
Arne Slot, however, knows how to play with all styles, he's a combination of both above, that's why I call him the Chameleon.
If you open up the field, playing at pace and turning it into transitions , he will be ready; he would masterfully defend against that and show you he is a master of the transition game, with the very pacy forwards he has who are also excellent marksmen.
Or you approach him like a Manchester City, with so much possession and slow build up game, picking your moments; he will also show you he loves to possess the ball too, then he will beat your press and before you know it his team is creating goal scoring chances.
So far, Arne Slot has been fantastic with Liverpool, even though he doesn't have a recognised number 9 that you can count on. Nunez has not been that. Slot is also short of backup defenders. It is not as if his midfield hs famous names, but they are wonderful to watch. It's fantastic coaching by Slot I must say.
Arne Slot has played 25 matches, losing only one, winning 21 matches, and hasn't lost to any big clubs like City, Arsenal, United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Real Madrid, or Bayer Leverkusen!
Liverpool is at the top of the league and the Champions League, with the second strongest attack in the league, the most created chances in the league, the strongest defense in the league, astounding in every way!
Liverpool's choice of Arne Slot is proving a truly commendable decision.