Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, provided an insightful preview of their upcoming Champions League match against AC Milan during a press conference held at San Siro on Monday evening. The Reds arrived in Italy ahead of the highly anticipated match, which is set to kick off on Tuesday night at 8pm BST.
Slot, who will be managing his first Champions League game with Liverpool on his birthday, downplayed the personal significance of the occasion, focusing instead on the magnitude of the match. He acknowledged the historic significance of both clubs and the iconic setting of the San Siro, stating that these elements made the game much more meaningful than his birthday.
One of the key topics of discussion was Dominik Szoboszlai, who is close to making his 50th appearance for Liverpool. Slot praised the midfielder’s importance to the team, particularly highlighting his impressive work in the pressing game, a crucial aspect of Liverpool’s style of play. However, Slot also pointed out that Szoboszlai still has room for improvement, especially when it comes to contributing more goals and assists. He stressed that Szoboszlai has the potential to enhance his overall output, particularly given the high quality of the team around him.
When asked about the challenge that AC Milan would pose, Slot expressed strong respect for the Italian side, but he dismissed the idea that any team, including Liverpool, would approach the game with fear. He singled out Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders as a player in excellent form, but emphasized that respect for Milan’s quality would be a driving force rather than fear. Slot made it clear that Liverpool will approach the match with caution but confidence.
Slot also addressed Liverpool’s recent defeat to Nottingham Forest, acknowledging the frustration within the team over the result. However, he pointed out that each game brings different challenges, and the Milan match would be no exception. He viewed the clash with Milan as a fresh challenge, distinct from the one posed by Forest.
Discussing the new Champions League format, Slot admitted that it’s too early to know how many points will be required to qualify for the next stage. He expressed his appreciation for the more frequent exciting matches but acknowledged that only time would tell how the new structure would impact players and teams.
Reflecting on Liverpool’s recent loss to Nottingham Forest, Slot dismissed the idea that squad rotation was the primary cause, instead attributing the defeat to the team’s underperformance and the opposition’s style of play. He noted that while rotation could become necessary, particularly with players returning from international duties, it was not the main reason for the loss.
Finally, Slot touched on the threat posed by Milan’s Rafael Leao, acknowledging the forward’s high quality and stressing that Liverpool would need a collective team effort to neutralize him. On Alexis Mac Allister, Slot confirmed the player’s importance and revealed that he would make a decision on how many minutes the midfielder would play against Milan based on fitness and tactical considerations.
