Arne Slot has said that he has to improve his game because the standard that governs the first division From top to bottom it is very high. The Dutchman took Liverpool to the top after 11 games and quickly realized the quality of the Eredivisie.
On Sunday Liverpool travel to the bottom of the table Southamptonwhere Slot does not expect an easy victory, since he believes that any team in the division can defeat any other. Despite Southampton winning once this season, Slot praised Russell Martin for sticking to his principles of possession-based football.
“The biggest difference is that the other 17 coaches (in the Eredivisie) have game plans and playing styles and all kinds of great ideas, but the difference in quality between the two clubs (AZ and Feyenoord) I worked for and the “We faced each other was so big that you can come up with all the brilliant game plans, but it doesn't work because there's so much difference in quality,” Slot said.
“Southampton and all these teams have players who can play for big clubs. If you have a good game plan and a good style of play, it can really work against us, against Manchester City or against Arsenal. That's what makes there more tests, especially the quality of the players. As a result of that, the game plans work better for these coaches than for the 16, 17, 18 of the Eredivisie.”
Martin's methods have been criticized but the former Scotland defender is unwilling to give in despite poor results. Southampton have the fewest goals in the league with seven goals in 11 games. In his most recent defeat, 2-0 against the wolvesSouthampton had 72% possession but failed to get a shot on goal.
“If you're a manager, you have to believe in something and stick to that plan,” Slot said. “Russell has his own style and believes in it. Nobody knows for sure that if he or the club wants to change the style of play, it would lead to many more points.
“He got them back and makes it very difficult for all teams to play against them. Normally, these rising teams need some time to adapt to the new league. If you then have a good idea about football and a good game plan, the results will come.”