Richard Hughes and Arne Slot spoke on the latest instalment of Liverpool FC's Reds Roundtable
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot speak on the latest instalment of Liverpool's Reds Roundtable
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot speak on the latest instalment of Liverpool's Reds Roundtable(Image: Liverpool FC)
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Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has opened up on his relationship with Arne Slot and remains "convinced" the record-breaking transfer spend last summer will prove a success at Anfield. Hughes, who was announced in his position in March 2024, was integral in the appointment of Slot as Reds head coach a few months later in succession to long-term manager Jurgen Klopp.
Despite minimal activity during the first summer transfer window of Slot's tenure, the Dutchman went on to lead Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th championship.
Fortunes, though, have taken a downturn this season after a squad overhaul that saw £450million spent on new players and half that amount recouped with the departure of a number of key regulars.
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While Slot has been heavily scrutinised given the Reds currently standing outside the Champions League qualification berths in sixth place, Hughes has dismissed any suggestion of pressure being applied from the club's hierarchy over team selection and that the head coach's position is under any immediate threat.
And with Liverpool having failed to bolster their injury-hit defensive ranks for the remainder of the season - although a £60m deal has been agreed for Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet to join in the summer - the sporting director admits the club aren't always able to give Slot the players he requires.
"Fundamentally there's the understanding for both parties and everyone at wide the everything involves matchday, team selection, tactics, that's always the manager or head coach," said Hughes. "That's their domain. It's very important not to step into that.
"Of course we talk about football and performances but I always let Arne lead that. Naturally in a conversation I will come up with an opinion and not just react to Arne's, but always waiting for the right time to share these things is critical.
"You have to have an opinion - it was an opinion that got Arne into the position he is in, so you can't shy away from that. But once you have the right person and believe in that person, the judgement isn't something that is happening on a daily basis. You are working together to achieve something together.
"Did it help that we came in together at the same point? Possibly. But it's more important that we had synergy right from the first moment. Understanding who he is as a football manager, how he wants to work, trying your best and it's not always possible to put them in the best possible position to have all the tools they require, and that's what I feel my job is then."
Hughes was speaking alongside Slot and Liverpool chief executive officer Billy Hogan as part of the latest episode of The Reds Roundtable.
And of working with the sporting director, Slot said: "We have spoken almost on a daily basis since we started, you get to know each other even better.
"What I really like about working for a sporting director is that whenever I need him, he is there for me. But you don't constantly feel that all the decisions you are making, he is judging them. Maybe he does but then he finds a really good way of hiding it!
"You want to have the backup when needed and advice, but you don't want two eyes on top of you constantly on every decision you make. I think Richard finds that balance really well for me to work in ideal circumstances.
"I've worked with sporting directors who are very keen on the ones they have signed and what makes Richard special is that he's not only focused on the ones he signed, he is there for Liverpool to win and not (just) for his signings to do well.
"That's something you don't always see with sporting directors. It's safe to say he has a low ego."
Hughes also explained why there was an expectation within the club that the raft of summer signings, particularly those from abroad, would take time to adapt, as has been seen with the recent improvement in form of £116m Florian Wirtz and £79m Hugo Ekitike.
"You have to constantly try to help people off the pitch in their adaptation," he said. "It's normal to expect that young people coming from another country would take time to adjust to their surroundings, a different type of football than they may have been used to. So much that isn't necessarily alien but different.
"You want to be there to support them and not suffocate them with it, let them find their own feet. All these players are here for a very good reason, they are top players. Everybody has played their part in getting them to the club and we were all very happy with what we did in the summer, not just me.
"Whether they are good, bad or indifferent in terms of signings, there's no proprietary felt in my position, it's a collective effort that helps these boys translate their form for which they have been brought to the club and be the best version of themselves.
"As long as the players are the right ones in the first place, and we are absolutely convinced every time we bring someone in that they are, then the performances on the pitch will quickly follow.
"(But) you have to make sure you don't focus just on the new players. It's a team sport and just because new people are coming in you can just suddenly leave the players who have been here for a number of years or Federico Chiesa, who has only been here for one year."