Liverpool Will Not Alter Offensive Approach Despite Recent Slump, Says Slot
The Dutch manager has revealed that the team leadership agree with his assessment regarding the recent downturn and he has no intention of discarding their offensive approach in quest for a turnaround. The tactician conceded that six defeats in seven matches was not good enough ahead of Saturday's match against Aston Villa.
Increasing Scrutiny During Difficult Period
Liverpool's coach recognized the expectations were high before his makeshift team exited the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace. However, he emphasized that this need to reverse the decline is not coming from the club's ownership or football administration following a significant spending of nearly £450 million.
"Our views align," remarked Slot, whose team next week face Los Blancos in the continental tournament and play against Manchester City in the domestic competition.
Player Depth Stays Unquestioned
Liverpool's manager thinks his team "have an unbelievable squad if they are all fit and fully prepared for the schedule ahead". He mentioned that the summer investment in players such as the attacking midfielder and Alexander Isak, who is likely to miss out again against the Birmingham club through fitness issues, had left the club "in an excellent position for the short-term future and the long-term future".
Gelling Difficulties
When questioned about why his team were taking so long to gel, he answered: "That's not particularly helpful. 'Why, why, why?' I provide reasons and people say I'm making justifications. I can identify multiple factors why we are underperforming or losing as much as we do but, as I always emphasize, there are never enough excuses to have a performance streak as we had now."
- Even if I could list 200 excuses
- Leading this club you must avoid losses
- In truth six out of seven
Defensive Statistics
Only Burnley (21) have allowed more significant openings from open play this season than the Merseysiders (nineteen). The first-place team, Arsenal, have allowed just two. Yet the manager disputes the champions have been too open and claims there is no basis to compromise forward-thinking approach for a more pragmatic style after 10 games without a clean sheet.
"In my view we're not giving up numerous openings so I see no justification to modify our philosophy entirely but we must improve in not conceding goals," he declared.
Recent Examples
"When facing United, how many chances did we concede? Against Eintracht Frankfurt when we were ahead by two goals, we barely allowed a effort at our net. In all the games we played until now we haven't conceded a lot of chances. Absolutely not. We do concede a bit more than last season but that has to do with us being trailing by a goal so you play more openly. But in general I don't think that our challenge is that we concede too many chances. Our issue is we fail to convert the chances we create."