Football broadcaster Kevin Hatchard explained the various qualities and tactical knowledge that Feyenoord manager Arne Slot will bring to Liverpool
Kevin Hatchard provided a detailed assessment of Feyenoord manager Arne Slot that should ease the sceptics in the Liverpool fanbase. Hatchard is a well-reputed expert on European football and an experienced sports broadcaster, providing commentary in several top European competitions.
In January, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp announced that he was leaving the managerial post after strongly feeling “out of energy”. Despite the surprise of losing their much-adored manager, the fans understood that his mental and physical health comes first.
Liverpool’s owners FSG implemented a thorough plan to compensate for the loss of Klopp, who enjoyed a lot of power. The restructure of the hierarchy included the return of famed former Sporting Director Michael Edwards in a bigger role.
Edwards is responsible for overseeing all the footballing operations under FSG which includes other clubs than Liverpool. The 44-year-old appointed Richard Hughes as the sporting director for the Reds after leaving his technical director role at Bournemouth.
Edwards and Hughes implemented a detailed search for a worthy successor for Klopp and eventually pinpointed Slot for the role. The Feyenoord head coach has enjoyed similar success in the Netherlands under a restricted budget, implementing entertaining philosophy and tactics.
Speaking on Fabrizio Romano’s The Debrief (h/t The Daily Briefing), Hatchard explained the quality that Slot brings to the table. He said:
“Well, they’re getting a good communicator for a start, good man manager, somebody who speaks very, very good English. That’s going to help. I know that sounds quite basic, but we’ve seen this before in managerial appointments where the communication isn’t great from the get go and that can present something of a barrier. He hasn’t got that problem at all. I think he’s somebody who plays winning football. You know, he won the Eredivisie. He was able to win the Dutch Cup this season. He’s had some good results in European football as well.”
Hatchard further elucidated Slot’s tactical preference, exciting the Reds fanbase accustomed to attacking football. He added:
“But I think he’s somebody that is a really good fit for that squad, potentially, because he plays really aggressively without the ball, plays in a really attacking manner with the ball. I understand the scepticism because players and coaches from the Eredivisie, the record can be a bit hit and miss. It is a big leap from that level to being at a top Premier League club. But I think there’s risk in every single appointment.”
The leap from the Eredivisie to the Premier League is enormous but Slot has displayed fantastic managerial acumen. The 45-year-old has to work in a similar restricted budget which many top managers are not willing to do.
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Slot has proven that he is happy to work with any kind of personality and improve them under his tactics. While a section of the Liverpool fanbase would stay sceptical until the Reds start playing under him, every research shows the appointment is inspiring and well-calculated by Edwards and Hughes.
