Liverpool’s Arne Slot Calls for Best Performance Yet Against PSG
As the anticipation builds for the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has made it clear that his team will need to deliver their best performance of the season to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The Reds hold a narrow advantage after beating PSG 1-0 in the first leg, a match where the hosts dominated at the Parc des Princes. Slot admitted that his team was “very lucky” to come away with the win and has now urged his players to step up their game.
In a news conference on Monday, Slot emphasized the challenge ahead, stating, “I think [Liverpool will need to give the best performance of the season] because this is the most complete team we’ve faced so far.” He acknowledged the formidable opponents Liverpool has already encountered this season, including Arsenal and Manchester City. However, he noted that PSG’s intensity and quality set them apart. “Let’s be honest, we are talking about the richest club,” Slot said, highlighting PSG’s depth and the impact of their manager, who “brings the best out of every player.”
Slot continued, “He brings incredible work rate in the team, so that’s why I think we need to be at our best tomorrow.” He expressed his admiration for PSG’s performance, saying, “I wasn’t surprised at all about [PSG’s] performance. They’ve impressed me a lot. Before the game last week, I watched a lot of their games and I was really impressed with the intensity they play at, the team cohesion, the rotations in the midfield.”
He added, “They are such a complete team, such a well-managed team and we experienced that last Wednesday. Some people said we played poor, I don’t agree. I think they played tremendously well.” Slot believes that Liverpool can rise to the occasion, stating, “I don’t think we’ve faced this season a team that combines that quality with that much intensity but I do think we can do better. I’m not saying we play poor or not good at all but we are a better team than we were last week, and that’s something we have to prove tomorrow with the help of our fans.”
Slot’s sentiments were echoed by forward Diogo Jota, who started last week’s clash in Paris. When asked if it was the toughest game Liverpool have faced this season, Jota agreed, “Yes I think so, at least in my opinion. I obviously missed some games this season but I think the way the game went was not the plan.”
Jota reflected on the match, saying, “I think that shows as well that, even though things were not going well, we worked hard and stayed in the game to take our opportunity. That means a lot as well as it shows the character this team has. That’s very positive to take into the remainder of the season.”
He acknowledged PSG’s dominance, “They had the ball more than we expected. They dominated the game, they created chances. Obviously, we were too far away from their goal a lot of the time but in the end we won the game.” Looking ahead, Jota expressed confidence, “We know that tomorrow with our fans, we want to show a different face and the game will be different for sure but, in the end, we just want to go through.”
- Key Points:
- Liverpool holds a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
- Arne Slot calls PSG the “most complete” team faced this season.
- Diogo Jota emphasizes the importance of character and fan support.
Originally Written by: Beth Lindop
