Ibrahima Konate has lifted the lid on the differences between Arne Slot and Jurgen Klopp - and revealed how the former accidentally sparked a fire in him early on his reign.
Konate enjoyed a superb season as Liverpool won the Premier League title in Slot’s first campaign as head coach. Having been regularly disrupted by injuries since his arrival at Anfield in 2021, the Frenchman managed to nail down a regular spot alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Reds’ defense.
His form has led to some speculation over his future though, with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain having been linked with his services. With just one year remaining on his contract, doubts have been creeping in over how much longer Konate might play for the Reds.
Slot will no doubt be keen to keep hold of the 26-year-old, who has made himself one of the Dutchman’s most dependable players, despite having started the 2024/25 campaign on the fringes.
Konate found himself on the bench for the opening game of the season at Ipswich as Jarell Quansah was initially preferred by Slot, having also ended the previous season with a run of games in Klopp’s side.
With Liverpool struggling to break down its opponent though, Slot called upon Konate in a surprise switch for Quansah, although the gamble paid off as the Reds won 2-0 - and the rest, as they say, is history.
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Liverpool FC at Portman Road on August 17, 2024 in Ipswich, England.
Ibrahima Konate started the season on the bench before becoming a regular in Arne Slot's side (Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Detailing what changed for him under Slot after Klopp’s departure, Konate has now told The Athletic how that moment at Ipswich would be the catalyst for what would turn out to be his best season yet at Anfield.
“He has a playing philosophy that’s a bit different — he’s more focused on build-up play and holding onto the ball a bit more,” Konate said of Slot.
“But he didn’t ask me to change anything specifically.
“I didn’t start the first match of the season, but I came on at half-time. From that point on, the objective in my head was clear: I wanted to win everything this season and leave no stone unturned.
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“Give nobody a chance, whether that’s the rivals for my position or my opponents. And that’s pretty much what happened.”
Liverpool will of course be looking to defend its title next season, with pre-season preparations already well underway with Jeremie Frimpong joining the ranks, and Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez looking as though they could follow soon.
Reflecting on the recently ended season, Konate added: “I’m very happy with the season we had. Even though we would have liked to go a bit further in the Champions League.
“We can be sad about that, but it came during a period when we weren’t at our best and a lot of fatigue had built up. In the end, we’re happy to have ended up with the Premier League.”