Liverpool boss Arne Slot was watching Bruce Springsteen this week
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The boss took in The Boss earlier this week. And even when enjoying his down time, Arne Slot spotted good reason to take inspiration for his Liverpool squad.
Slot was at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester to watch legendary American rocker Bruce Springsteen thumb through his songbook in preparation for two nights performing at Anfield next month.
Having had a brief break in Ibiza the previous week, Slot - along with his players - had made the most of celebrating a job well done after securing a record-equalling 20th championship for Liverpool in his first season in charge.
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Indeed, minds have already become more focused on the next campaign and the different challenge of ensuring the Reds remain hungry for further title glory having failed to retain any of the trophies they have won since claiming a third successive league crown way back in 1984.
And Slot - who was in attendance at the gig with colleagues who have helped him throughout his debut campaign at Anfield - saw on stage the traits he wants his squad to continue possessing. Hungry Hearts to ensure Glory Days, you could say.
“I have heard what Springsteen does in his daily life to do what he does," says the Liverpool head coach. “Talking about people having good habits, I know how disciplined he is to achieve this because I was with someone who knows him.
“I like his music and I can sing ‘Born In The USA’ but I can’t sing every song. What I recognised is that people are as passionate about Bruce Springsteen as our fans are about Liverpool.
“I like to watch the joy he gives his fans and the joy our players give the fans at Anfield - so that is a great comparison.
“Springsteen, at 75, is still able to do three hours on stage without even one minute of rest. I think he took three or four drinks of what I assume was water. It was unbelievable, talking about his mentality.
"One of the biggest things I inherited from (predecessor) Jurgen (Klopp) was a great, great mentality (in the Liverpool squad). Everybody is on time, they try to work hard. But that is what I tell my son also, yeah you can work hard or you can work hard at elite level, and be consistent.
"I am a true believer that if you create habits every moment of the day, you have the biggest chance of achieving something."
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will finally get his hands on the Premier League trophy after the final game of the season at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, with more than a million people expected to line the streets of the city the following day for the title parade.
Van Dijk is one of six players - Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez the others - to have now played a significant part in two Premier League title triumphs for Liverpool.
And while that sextets has proven their ability to go again, Slot is curious as to what how the remainder of the squad will react. Will it be necessary for the Reds boss to be harder on his players next term?
“That depends," he responds. "I think one of the reasons you play at a club like Liverpool is because you have elite mentality, and you have the mentality of a serial winner.
"But sometimes as a manager you have to help them a little bit to inspire them, or to be hard on them, or to compliment them. But I assume, and I've seen this already with Mo Salah, I always give him as an example, because he was last season the one that was number one when we had this test in the league, and that told me a lot.
"That's why it's not a surprise for me that he's for seven years already at elite level. And if you look at all the elite players there were in all different sports, they all say the same. If you want to be a serial winner, it's just about consistency in your discipline throughout your whole career or your whole life."
Slot adds: “Last season, many of my players, including myself, hadn't won the league in England yet. A few of them had. Now they've all won it. Now let's see how they react. And I think those who have already won it have set great examples this season.
"I don’t think I will see if we are ready to be champions again on the first day of pre-season training - only if we have got a chance.
“Of course, people will say 'how can you judge on one day, it’s impossible'. But it will give me a sign of where we are because it will be a test of how much they have all done in the off-season. I will get a first insight of where we are mentality-wise to see if we are serial winners."
Slot is expected to once again ring the changes on Sunday. Van Dijk and Robertson are primed to return in defence, with Curtis Jones pressing for a place in midfield and Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota in contention for a place in the attack. Alexis Mac Allister will once again not be considered.