In Champions League Round 6, Liverpool secured a late 1-0 away win over Inter Milan. After the match, Jurgen Slot addressed the Salah situation once again.
On the Match
Slot: “We were 3 points behind Inter Milan earlier. To finish in the top eight, the team needed at least 15 points. The best we could do now was take all three points away from home. The opponents have a strong squad, but overall, we put in an excellent performance.”
“The midfield provided solid support for the defense throughout, and the players showed great commitment and fighting spirit. In the second half, we adopted a high press and maintained an extra man in defensive coverage. All 11 players tracked back to defend, doing everything to keep a clean sheet, and we eventually earned a penalty.”
On Salah
Slot: “I separate on-field performance from off-field incidents. In the previous game against Leeds United, the team conceded a late equalizer, which was a huge blow to the players. We barely gave the opponents any clear-cut chances, so the result was really hard to accept. That defeat was emotionally charged, and what followed only added to the unease. At the time, only 13 players in the squad had Premier League or Champions League experience. When the team was held to a late draw and morale was low, various external discussions emerged. Usually, such public controversies also affect the players – after all, Salah has long been the club’s core pillar, and his teammates naturally hate to see their colleague caught up in disputes.”
“However, the focus now should be on our performance away from home. I fully expect that at Friday’s press conference, all questions will revolve around Salah.”
On Facing Public Doubt Himself
Slot: “Everyone makes mistakes in life. But the key is: does the player in question realize his mistake? Who should take the first step towards reconciliation – him or me? That’s another question to consider. Konaté has had inconsistent form recently, but his performance in this game was phenomenal.”
“We conceded 7 goals in two consecutive games against PSV Eindhoven and Nottingham Forest. After such heavy defeats, the team had to make adjustments, with reducing the concession rate as the top priority – and we achieved that against West Ham United. Then against Sunderland, the opponents didn’t create their first threatening attack until the 86th minute; their goal wasn’t even a genuine scoring chance. Unfortunately, this defensive resilience didn’t carry over to the Leeds game.”
“In the second half, the team showed great fighting spirit, and we also made some minor tactical tweaks.”
How Liverpool Can Further Polish the Squad
Slot: “Video analysis is our main tool for improving the team. However, after the away game against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, the team will have a one-week break, and we will thus get more joint training time. In football, a schedule of four games in 10 days is not common, but we gritted our teeth and got through this intensive period.”
