Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp praised an opposition manager during his time as Liverpool boss (Image: Koji Watanabe, Getty Images)
Liverpool should consider turning to Zinedine Zidane as the pressure intensifies on Arne Slot. The Reds' manager is under scrutiny following a ninth loss in 12 matches.
Their 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night marks the worst of this losing streak, closely followed by Liverpool's recent 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Instead of bouncing back from these setbacks, it appears Slot's team are worsening.
What was once seen as a minor hiccup has now become a significant worry for a squad and manager that clinched the Premier League title just six months ago. Slot has found himself having to defend his position, something that would have been unimaginable at the start of the season. While finding the right mid-season replacement can be challenging, former Real Madrid manager Zidane is one coach who is ready for a comeback.
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Zidane has been out of football since resigning from his second spell in Madrid four years ago. However, his record of three consecutive Champions League victories solidified his reputation as a top-tier manager.
There was often a narrative that Zidane succeeded with Los Blancos because he was able to manage the personalities within his talented squad, rather than being tactically savvy. This was not a view shared by Jurgen Klopp, though, as the ex-Liverpool boss lauded Zidane's tactical prowess ahead of the 2018 Champions League final, which Madrid ultimately won.
"If a lot of people think Zinedine Zidane has not a lot of tactical knowledge and then people think the same about me that would be really funny," Klopp said. "The two managers in the Champions League final have no clue about tactics? What would that say about the game?
"For me, Zinedine Zidane is one of the best five players of all time in football. I'm longer in Liverpool than he is at Real Madrid and he can win the Champions League for a third time. That's never happened before.
Jurgen Klopp and Zinedine Zidane
Jurgen Klopp praised Zinedine Zidane ahead of the Champions League final (Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"Unfortunately I have to accept that he is as brilliant as he was as a player. This group of players work like a clock from Switzerland.
"I saw his team playing a lot of times and it is just fantastic football. It is organised when it needs to be organised and chaos when it needs to be chaos."
While parting ways with Slot might prove difficult, Zidane appears to possess all the credentials required to thrive at Anfield, including an endorsement from Klopp. The potential obstacle Liverpool could encounter is Zidane's ambition to manage France, with Didier Deschamps expected to depart following this summer's World Cup.
However, this doesn't automatically rule out Zidane welcoming interest from Liverpool. Back in 2022, when questioned about accepting a Premier League job, Zidane told L'Equipe: "Never say never. Especially when you are a coach today. If I go back to a club, it is to win. I say this with all modesty.
Zinedine Zidane with the Champions League trophy
Zidane won three Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles as Real Madrid manager (Image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"That's why I can't just go anywhere. For other reasons, too. Certain conditions make things more difficult. When someone says to me, 'Do you want to go to Manchester [United]?' I understand English but I don't fully master it.
"I know there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently. To win, many elements come into play. It's a global context. I know what I need to win. Of course, I might not always win, but I know that you need to have this, this and this. And I want to do everything on my side to optimise my chances of victory."
Whether Zidane believes his command of English has sufficiently developed remains unclear. However, the 53-year-old's potential availability looms as one of several factors casting doubt over Slot's tenure.
Arne Slot
Arne Slot is under pressure as Liverpool manager (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The Liverpool manager recognises the mounting pressure to deliver swift improvements before the club faces what would previously have been considered an unthinkable choice.
"If any manager around the world loses football games, let alone so many as we've lost, it's quite normal that people have an opinion about that," Slot acknowledged when questioned about speculation surrounding his position. "And if that's fair or not fair, that's for the people to judge. But that is normal. I think it is that if you lose so many times, that people start talking about that.
"I think it's a shock for everyone. For the players, for the journalists over here, for me. For everyone this is a shock that is very, very, very unexpected when you look at the quality we are having."