Liverpool manager Arne Slot sent a heartfelt tribute to his predecessor Jürgen Klopp immediately after his team secured the Premier League title.
The Reds defeated Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield on Sunday, equalling the record of 20 English league championships. Slot also became the first Dutch coach to win the Premier League.
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“It feels amazing. I don’t think I want to say much more now. The only thing I want is to send my gratitude to Jürgen Klopp,” Slot told LFCTV.
The 46-year-old coach then burst into a spontaneous rendition of the song Klopp asked Liverpool fans to sing after his last game in May – but replaced “Arne Slot” with “Jürgen Klopp”.
“I’m 99.9% sure that if I check my phone now, there will be a message from Jürgen,” he told BBC Match of the Day.
“We have been in contact so many times throughout the season. He showed last season what a wonderful person he is by introducing me in the way he did. But the most important thing was the team he left behind – a team that was capable of winning this trophy.”
Slot added to Sky Sports:
“The work Jürgen and Pep [Lijnders] put in – the culture, the work ethic, the quality – was absolutely outstanding.”
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Exceeded all expectations
Few would have expected Slot to lead Liverpool to league glory already in his debut season, not least himself.
“We started really well and maybe it helped that [Manchester] City had a difficult period that they haven’t had in five years,” he explained.
“When the season started, we would have been happy with a top-four finish. But that doesn’t do the players justice – they’re so much better than that, and they’ve proven it this season.”
Anfield magic made the difference
Even when Dominic Solanke gave Spurs a surprising lead, Slot was confident that his team would turn the game around.
“From the moment we arrived on the bus, everyone could feel that we were never going to lose this game,” he told the BBC.
“The supporters were incredibly positive before and during the game. Even at 1-0 down, you felt that this team and these fans would make it happen.”
Speaking to LFCTV, he stated:
“They always find a way to win. I’m incredibly proud – not only of the players, but everyone standing here: sports directors, my staffs. They deserve a big applause.”
“Let’s forget that this is the second title in 35 years… It’s the second in five years,” he concluded with a smile.
A perfect end to a magical season for Liverpool, where Arne Slot has written himself into the club’s history already in his first campaign.
