Liverpool manager Arne Slot has discussed the significant influence Pep Guardiola has had on his coaching career ahead of their first meeting on Sunday.
Slot’s Liverpool, currently top of the Premier League, will host Guardiola’s Manchester City, the reigning champions, at Anfield.
In his first season in charge, Slot has exceeded expectations, successfully succeeding Jürgen Klopp and delivering better results than the German’s final year at the club.
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After an 18-year playing career in the Netherlands, Slot took his first managerial role with Cambuur in 2016, just months after Guardiola joined Manchester City. However, Slot had long been an admirer of Guardiola’s teams during his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
“When I played, I always noticed that some passes from my teammates were successful, and others weren’t. Then, when I started watching Barcelona, I realized that the successful passes were the ones they played,” Slot explained.
“That reassured me that what I thought was the right ball was indeed the right one. It helped me shape my own football philosophy and style of play.”
Slot stressed that he isn’t an obsessive admirer of Guardiola but acknowledged that his teams are a “joy to watch” and serve as a source of inspiration for coaches worldwide.
“It’s not about admiration, but there are very few people in football whose teams consistently deliver. Nine times out of ten, the games of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or City have been a delight for anyone who loves football. That’s why I enjoy watching his teams play,” Slot said.
“He was the one who introduced, maybe not invented – perhaps it was done 100 years ago – but the idea of inverted full-backs and pushing a center-back into midfield. With him, you always see something new, or an innovation.”