Liverpool head coach Arne Slot addressed the media on Monday evening ahead of their Champions League clash against AC Milan at the San Siro.
Speaking just after the team’s arrival in Italy, Slot shared his thoughts on the significance of the fixture, key players, and the recent defeat to Nottingham Forest. The game is scheduled for an 8pm BST kickoff on Tuesday night, marking a significant occasion for Slot as his first Champions League match in charge of Liverpool falls on his birthday.
On his first Champions League game in charge
Slot acknowledged the personal milestone but quickly shifted focus to the team and the occasion. “It’s the first time my birthday isn’t as important tomorrow,” he said. “It’s a big game for me, but even more so for the team because it’s the first match, and the next game is always the most important one. Given the history between these two clubs and the venue, it’s a special match to look forward to.”
On Dominik Szoboszlai nearing 50 appearances
Slot was full of praise for Szoboszlai’s role within the squad, emphasizing the importance of all players in his team. “He has played in all four of our games, and like any player, he feels more valuable when he’s on the pitch,” Slot explained. “His pressing game has been outstanding, but I’d like him to contribute more in terms of goals and creating chances. For an attacking midfielder at Liverpool, those numbers need to go up.” Despite that, Slot expressed confidence that Szoboszlai would soon improve his attacking output, particularly given the quality of players around him.
On facing AC Milan and their strengths
When asked about being “scared” of Milan, Slot clarified his position. “Scared is not the right word. We have respect for Milan’s quality, history, and players,” he said. “A player that stands out is Tijjani Reijnders, who has been excellent for Milan and the Dutch national team. But we respect their entire squad. After their 4-0 win last weekend, they’re clearly in good form, but we aren’t afraid.”
Reflecting on the disappointment of the Nottingham Forest loss
Slot admitted that the defeat to Nottingham Forest was disappointing for both the team and the fans. “It’s frustrating to lose a home game, especially for a club like Liverpool,” he remarked. “We didn’t perform as well as we did against Manchester United, and although some things went right, we simply weren’t good enough. Tomorrow will be a different game entirely with Milan’s style of play, but the disappointment from Saturday still lingers.”
On the new Champions League format and qualification requirements
Slot shared his thoughts on the revamped Champions League format, acknowledging the unpredictability of how many points would be needed to qualify. “It’s difficult to predict, especially with this being the first time we’re playing under the new format,” he admitted. “I’ve been in European competitions before where we qualified with as few as six or seven points. But to finish in the top eight, you need to win a lot of games. We’ll know more once the competition progresses.” He did note, however, that as a football fan, the new format offers a constant stream of exciting matches, which is a positive for viewers.
On whether rotation would play a role following the weekend defeat
Responding to questions about rotating the squad after the loss to Nottingham Forest, Slot dismissed the idea that it played a major role in the defeat. “If rotation was the issue, then we’d have lost more than just one game this year,” he said. “Too many players simply didn’t hit their usual level, which wasn’t down to rotation. Nottingham’s style of play made it tough for us, and that’s something we need to address. We’ll rotate players as needed, but I don’t think that was the reason for our loss.”
Slot also pointed out that many of his players had returned from international duty having played full matches, which made rotation difficult. “Now that I have the squad back, I can make decisions about rotation. But before this, many of them had played 90 minutes twice with their national teams, so it’s not as simple as saying we didn’t rotate enough.”
On Federico Chiesa’s availability
Slot confirmed that Federico Chiesa, recently signed from Juventus, would be part of the squad but wouldn’t start the match. “Chiesa is a quality player who fits our style perfectly with his work ethic and ability to play in multiple attacking positions,” Slot said. “However, it’s his first time in the squad, and after training alone for a while, it’s too early for him to play 90 minutes. We might see him for a few minutes if the game calls for it.”
On Rafael Leao’s threat
Slot recognized the challenge posed by Milan’s Rafael Leao, labeling him a “top player.” He remarked, “Everyone talks about Leao when they discuss Milan’s quality. We’ve studied him closely, and he’s a player that stands out. But stopping someone like Leao requires a strong team effort. Milan has several special players, but Leao is definitely one of the best.”
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