Arne Slot expressed his satisfaction with his team’s overall performance during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over AC Milan on Tuesday night.
In what was Slot’s first European match as head coach, the Reds came from behind to claim victory in Italy, with goals from Ibrahima Konate, captain Virgil van Dijk, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
The game got off to a challenging start for Liverpool, as Christian Pulisic found the back of the net for Milan just three minutes in. However, the visitors responded confidently, with their central defenders scoring before halftime to put Liverpool in the lead. Szoboszlai secured the win in the second half, finishing off a well-placed assist from Cody Gakpo at the iconic San Siro.
Reflecting on the match in his post-game press conference, Slot shared his thoughts on the performance, his birthday win, and standout players.
On winning on his birthday:
Slot acknowledged that while most people celebrate birthdays with friends and family, playing a Champions League match against a club as significant as AC Milan was a great alternative. He praised his team’s resilience after going 1-0 down so early in the match, especially considering the recent result against Nottingham Forest was still on their minds. Slot was pleased to see how his players took control of the game, ultimately securing a well-deserved 3-1 win.
On the performances of Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch:
Slot spoke highly of Gakpo and Gravenberch, noting that the San Siro is a special venue for Dutch players due to the legacy of past Dutch football stars who have played there. While he highlighted the performances of these two, Slot emphasized that the entire team played well, allowing individual players to shine. He pointed out that good individual performances are often a result of strong team dynamics, and in this case, the team’s collective performance was key.
On joining a group of managers who won Champions League games on their birthdays:
When asked about joining the ranks of legendary managers like Bobby Robson, Roberto Mancini, and Arsene Wenger, Slot said it was an honor but expressed a desire to achieve more in the future. While winning a Champions League match on his birthday was special, he aspires to reach even greater milestones, similar to those achieved by the legends he now shares company with.
On set-pieces as a key to breaking down Milan:
Slot explained that while he focuses on his own team rather than the opposition, set-pieces had been a point of emphasis, especially following their recent frustration against Nottingham Forest, where they had several corner kicks but failed to capitalize. He was pleased to see the hard work paying off in this match, with two well-executed set-pieces leading to crucial goals. In addition to their strong set-pieces, Slot felt Liverpool played well in possession and pressed effectively, although they also missed several opportunities from open play.
On the roles of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai:
Slot clarified that although it might have been misinterpreted, both Mac Allister and Szoboszlai were playing as midfielders, not wingers, during the match. He praised their control of the game, noting how they kept possession, switched play well, and created numerous chances. While Liverpool couldn’t convert their chances in the first half, they eventually scored a beautiful team goal in the second half, adding to the two set-piece goals from earlier.
On the early stages of the match and conceding an early goal:
Despite conceding a goal in the first few minutes, Slot believed his team started the match well. He acknowledged that Milan had a couple of early chances, including the goal, but felt that Liverpool quickly regained control. After some poor decision-making early on, which led to Milan’s counter-attacks, Liverpool dominated possession and limited Milan’s chances for the rest of the match. Although conceding early may suggest otherwise, Slot felt his team had a strong start and controlled the game for the majority of the contest.
Slot praised the overall team performance and expressed optimism about the direction in which his team is heading.
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