Jurgen Klopp blamed fatigue for his bombshell decision to stand down as Liverpool manager last year
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Andreas Kornmayer, Vitor Matos, Jurgen Klopp, Pepijn Lijnders and Jack Robinson - former Liverpool coaches
Andreas Kornmayer, Vitor Matos, former manager Jurgen Klopp, Pep Lijnders and Jack Robinson of Liverpool after the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024
(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool's former elite development coach Vitor Matos has hailed the work of Arne Slot and his own staff as 'exceptional'. Matos worked under Jurgen Klopp for five years at Anfield.
January 26, 2024, is a day that will stick in the memory of all who hold Liverpool dear. Klopp came up with an announcement out of the blue, confirming he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. His final months brought Carabao Cup success and an emotional send-off on the final day of the campaign.
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But in a way that nobody else could, the German made sure his final day was not only about him. Anfield was led in a chorus singing: "Arne Slot, na na na na na!"
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His replacement had not been officially confirmed beforehand out of respect to Feyenoord finishing their own season, but it didn't take long after Klopp's genius play. And now, less than a year into his year reign at Anfield, Slot stands on the brink of leading the Reds to the Premier League title glory.
The Reds sit 12 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with nine games remaining, and Matos has been left more than impressed by the work done by the Dutchman and his coaching staff.
"What Arne did is outstanding, because it is not easy to replace Jurgen. We tried to leave the club – and Jürgen left the club – in a really good moment. The idea was to leave the club in a better position than when he arrived," he told the Training Ground Guru Podcast.
"The squad we left, we all had a feeling it was a squad ready to win titles. They have an unbelievable team in terms of togetherness. But it’s not easy to come to Liverpool, a big club, and replace Jurgen, someone that was so loved by everyone.
"What (Slot) has done is exceptional, of course. The game quality and, at the same time, being able to win consistently and that is the most important thing.
"Tactically, I think step-by-step it was the direction of how Arne wants to play. Defending, you can see much more of a man-oriented press and less ball-oriented press, especially in the midfielders, they control much more the man more than the space by itself.
"This has changed how and where the press starts, and the spaces can change as well. At the same time, there are different game plans. In one game we can see Liverpool pressing much higher and in another they start with more of a mid block for example.
"It’s not about being better or worse, but about doing things differently. This season they are having a lot of success, so this is good.
"I think the triggers are changing, regarding who starts the press and who follows. Attacking wise, there are sometimes different starting positions for the full-backs, sometimes they start in deeper lines or facing the game close to the centre-backs. Not all the games – there were different approaches in different games depending on dynamics.
"Some dynamics were already there in the past, some were new, in terms of the positioning of the full-backs or strikers and the 10 sometimes as well, and even defending a little bit differently in terms of where the press starts on the pitch.
"The most important thing is that there is a clear idea, and this clear idea is possible to achieve with the squad he has and it is possible to have consistently good performance.
"That says a lot about Arne and a lot about the whole club on the moment as well."
Manager Jurgen Klopp (centre) with Pepijn Lijnders and Vitor Matos (right) of Liverpool during a training session
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 13: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Manager Jurgen Klopp (centre) with Pepijn Lijnders and Vitor Matos (right) of Liverpool during a training session on December 13, 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Matos also had specific praise to give for Ryan Gravenberch. Before the start of this season, the 22-year-old's role was undefined as Liverpool made a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
However, Zubimendi could not be persuaded to leave his boyhood club and Gravenberch has ended up stepping into a prime role in Slot's system, making all 41 appearances so far this season.
"You can see players in different roles and one of those is Ryan Gravenberch, who is doing an outstanding season as a number six," Matos said.
"That is something that completely improved by itself the offensive game, in terms of how the ball moves, how the ball breaks lines, and the direction he can give with one touch.
"Sometimes this kind of thing happens – a need creates an opportunity and this creates a beautiful idea," Matos analysed.
"But we all – especially Jurgen and Pep [Lijnders] – were big believers in him. We all saw his potential in terms of quality, so it was a matter of consistency and opportunity. This season, everything came together, and I’m really happy for him and for Liverpool.
Matos made the joint venture with Lijnders as his assistant at Red Bull Salzburg to start their post-Liverpool careers. Unfortunately, their Austrian project came to an abrupt end when the Dutchman and his coaching staff were sacked last December, 10 points adrift of first place.
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On his future and ambitions, he said: "I am really clear in my mind that I want to start as a manager. That’s the main ambition and now it is about finding a place, a project. I’ve developed myself, tried to learn, to keep improving.
"I learned a lot about myself and want to know myself in this role as well. I think in this moment, I am ready. I feel comfortable with the role and expectations."