Arne Slot’s second season at Liverpool has raised serious questions over his abilities as a top-level coach, but countryman Clarence Seedorf is not buying into the criticism.
Despite the Reds falling to fifth-place in the Premier League and looking like a shadow of the team which won the division last season, the former midfielder has made it clear that he still rates Slot highly.
Asked by Amazon Prime Sport to answer why he thinks Liverpool have ‘fallen away’ under the 47-year-old, Seedorf claimed that Slot is simply navigating the difficult task of reshaping a team built in Jurgen Klopp’s image.
Is a fifth-place finish enough to warrant Arne Slot remaining Liverpool manager?
Arne Slot during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Liverpool
Credit: Shaun Brooks/CameraSport/Getty Images
Seedorf backs Slot’s quality as Liverpool boss
Ask any Liverpool supporter, and they will likely tell you that Slot deserves to go this summer. He has had his chance, and though last season was a resounding success, this year could not have been more different.
Seedorf seemingly does not see things that way, however, suggesting that Slot was always going to find it difficult whenever he chose to transition away from the players he inherited from Klopp.
“Well, I think nothing particular is happening with Arne Slot,” he said. “I think many coaches, when they take over in a situation like he did where you have a team that has performed as good as they’ve done over the years with a very consolidated system with a very important coach before him, I think he did very well coming in, not changing too much.
“But if you want to at the end put your stamp on things, you need a bit of time. So I think this is actually a transitional year for him.”
FBL-EUR-C1-LIVERPOOL-PSG
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Xabi Alonso is not Liverpool’s first choice to take over as manager if Arne Slot is sacked
“My hope is he will do good enough to stay because I think that any coach like Klopp himself struggled in the beginning in the first years and then he came out,” Seedorf added.
“I believe Slot has all the qualities and talent to, you know, do better than this season, but again, the season is not finished yet.”
Analysis: Transition is not always progress and time may not fix it
There is logic in Seedorf’s argument, and Slot clearly has quality as a coach. You cannot win divisions with two different teams without that. However, the former AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder’s view does not fully stand up to scrutiny.
Transition is expected and can be tolerated to a degree, but it still needs to come with visible direction.
Rate Arne Slot’s second season as Liverpool head coach
Can anyone make a serious argument for higher than a C? 😶
Arne Slot reacts with frustration during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg match against Galatasaray at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine
Liverpool have lacked that. Performances have fluctuated, patterns of play remain unclear, and the squad does not look any closer to becoming Slot’s team.
Teething problems are normal, but they cannot define an entire season and, likely, far beyond. Klopp’s early struggles still came with signs of growth, even when results did not follow.
That evidence is missing here. Liverpool look caught in between eras, with no clear trajectory forward.
Slot may well be a good coach, but at a club demanding progress, belief alone is not enough. Without tangible improvement, Liverpool will have to decide whether patience is justified or whether change is needed.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox