Dutch media have made their feelings clear about Arne Slot's sacking
Arne Slot
Questions have been raised about Arne Slot's sacking(Image: Michael Regan, Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been accused of ditching their culture by sacking Arne Slot. The Dutchman was sacked on Saturday, just 12 months after leading the Reds to the Premier League title.
Slot paid the price for a poor title defence, which saw them finish fifth and only scrape into the Champions League on the final day of the season. Andoni Iraola is widely expected to replace him after leaving Bournemouth.
While many Liverpool fans are on board with the decision to dispense with Slot, Dutch media have been more critical. De Telegraaf accused the Reds of "throwing their own culture overboard," slamming them for turning into a "hire and fire" club.
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Voetbal International described it as a "premature end to a period that began with so much promise." They conceded that while Slot earned a legendary status in his debut season, his second year was marked by massive inconsistency.
AD referenced the Reds' £450m spending spree last summer and how "major disappointments" like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz "barely delivered and proved to be a costly miscalculation in hindsight."
De Volkskrant said Slot's "biggest problem" was Mohamed Salah, who aimed several barbs at the manager during the season. They recalled Salah's "frontal attack" following the draw at Leeds and said his "authority had been undermined."
Dutch media said Slot's cause wasn't helped by the likes of Florian Wirtz underperforming(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
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There was also empathy regarding the circumstances Slot faced ahead of what proved to be his final season at the club. Several outlets highlighted his "compassion and humanity" following the death of Diogo Jota.
Liverpool took the decision with reluctance but feel the team needs to evolve again towards a more aggressive, front-foot, urgent style of football. That reflects comments Salah made in a social media post earlier this month, when he called for a return to the "heavy metal football" played under Jurgen Klopp.
Iraola was already one of the bookmakers' favourites even before Slot was sacked, while Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann and PSG manager Luis Enrique are also high up in the odds.
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In a statement, owners Fenway Sports Group said: "That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying.
"We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title.
"That accomplishment – made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge – was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day."
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