Vitor Matos spent five years at Liverpool before leaving them at the end of last season.
The 36-year-old arrived at Anfield from FC Porto in 2019 and was part of Jurgen Klopp’s backroom staff, as the development coach.
Klopp stepped down from his post at Liverpool at the end of last season and his coaching staff also followed him through the exit door. The Reds replaced the German with Arne Slot, who has guided them currently to the top of the table.
Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders was appointed as Red Bull Salzburg manager in the summer and Matos joined the latter at the Austrian club.
O Jogo have been speaking to Matos about his time at Liverpool and their decision to pick the Dutchman as Klopp’s successor. The Portuguese is pleased the Merseyside club didn’t struggle following the former Borussia Dortmund manager’s exit from Anfield.
“The best feeling we have is that we managed to leave the club with the capacity and sustainability to fight for titles, with a culture of victory and a clear identity, with which the fans identify. This is our biggest trophy,” he said.
“There is nothing that sustains the process more than winning and that was Jurgen’s biggest concern: making the team competitive and capable of winning against any opponent. Then comes consistency.”
Klopp stepped down from Liverpool in May, but he announced his decision to leave back in January. This allowed the Premier League side to make smooth transition, which Matos points out when discussing the German’s exit.
“I think this impact was expected. The announcement was made with the season underway, with the aim of giving the club time to seek the solution they considered most appropriate, so that there could be as fluid a transition as possible,” Matos explained.
“It’s obvious that we all experienced this moment differently, but the day-to-day training and game routines remained, and all the concerns were with the team and the next opponent. We live this moment little by little and, over time, we don’t even notice the last months or days at the club.”
Liverpool have only one league defeat this season, which came against Nottingham Forest at home. Matos is thrilled with Slot’s start to his Anfield career and the changes he made at the English club.
“I’m very happy to see Liverpool leading the Premier League and the Champions League. This group of players and many of the people around them deserve this,” he added.
“It is not easy to find a coach with the ability to lead Liverpool. If we look at the results, I think it was impossible to have a better start. It’s fantastic to see them winning and the athletes continuing to develop. When we see the games, there is a hunger for titles and that is fantastic.”
“In the game idea, Arne identified himself and maintained some things, which made it a lot easier, but, at the same time, differences are already noticed, related to his values and what he believes.”
