Liverpool are now widely expected to stick with Arne Slot this summer, but it’s not uncommon for things to change in the final weeks of the season.
The Dutchman has all but salvaged Champions League qualification for Liverpool — the bare minimum expectation for this season — and his job looks much more secure than it did even a couple of weeks ago.
But it’s not like Slot can rest on his laurels in these final weeks. Decisions can be changed at the drop of a hat at this level, and a pertinent recent example of that comes from Barcelona, and their U-turn with Xavi Hernandez two years ago.
Who should Slot start up front against Crystal Palace? 🤔
Alexander Isak pictured with his arms outstretched during Liverpool's Premier League match against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Cody Gakpo reacts during Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Credit: James Gill/Danehouse/Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona exit a warning to Arne Slot
Barcelona under Hansi Flick are closing in on a second consecutive league title in two largely successful years at the Camp Nou.
Before him, it was club legend Xavi managing his old side. That 2023/24 campaign at Barcelona was quite similar to this one at Liverpool, with Slot also struggling quite a bit after winning the title in the previous season.
A difference in the stories is that Xavi had actually announced his intention to leave that January, citing ‘cruel and unpleasant’ treatment in the role as a driving factor.
He would change his mind in the months that followed, and at around this time in April 2024, it emerged that the club would be keeping him on. Now, there has been no official announcement in the present case, but it was widely reported this week that Slot will be staying at Liverpool.
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In Xavi’s case, what followed was a string of bad performances as rivals Real Madrid cruised to the title. At the end of May, the Spaniard was sacked.
Xavi
Xavi
The lesson here is that, while the relationship between FSG and Slot seems positive now, there is always a chance of opinions changing. Bad losses to Man United and Chelsea for example, or an indication that the players no longer believe in him.
In my opinion, it’s more likely he rounds out the season strong and stays on at Anfield, but the case of Xavi should serve as a reminder of how fast things can change at these huge clubs and how important it still is to end the season on a positive note.
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