Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been accused of acting like an ‘unruly spoiled brat’ for his reaction to the draw with Everton.
Journalist Leon ten Voorde goes in hard on the Liverpool manager today in his column for Algemeen Dagblad, in which he argues Slot’s mask may have slipped at Goodison Park.
Slot is facing a touchline ban after being sent off by referee Michael Oliver after the 2-2 draw with Everton on Wednesday.
The Dutchman was left incensed by something after James Tarkowski’s stunning late equaliser secured a point for the Toffees. He was seeing visibly angry on the touchline after that goal went in and continued afterwards, remonstrating with the officials as they gathered on the pitch.
He then had a brief conversation with Oliver, which initially started with a handshake, and it was at that point Oliver elected to show the Liverpool manager a red card. Slot’s assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, was also sent off after the game had ended.
It was a surprising moment from the Liverpool manager, who has been the epitome of calm and collected this season as his side had ran clear at the top of the Premier League and finished top in the new Champions League league-table format.
Ten Voorde, though, believes this incident may have been a case of Slot showing his true self to the world.
“Arne Slot is the ideal son-in-law with the angry temper,” he wrote in his column.
“It was about time too, after almost a year of walking the tightrope in the ideal world. On Wednesday – after some setbacks – England finally got to know the other side of Arne Slot from Bergentheim. The ideal son-in-law with the unexpected angry temper.
“It is all too good to be true: too slick, too smooth, too much of a pleaser, too charming, too clever and too cunning and maybe just too good. A great coach of a more than great club.
“After all the adulation and adulation, things are now a little bit disappointing. And then the ideal son-in-law turns into an unruly spoilt brat, unaccustomed to dealing with adversity.
“Suddenly, they saw a side of the manager in England that we in the Netherlands had discovered before, it is a character trait that does not make him equally popular with all his colleagues. A narrative Slot whines and whines to the fourth man, he manipulates and postures.
“Well, with this referee I would not have made it to the dressing room without a card either, but Slot threw off his mask with just a little too much misbehaving. It was as if a secret camera exposed everything in the bedroom of the incorruptible king.
“Slot was briefly himself again on Wednesday, a flesh-and-blood human being. Thankfully, because it was all getting just a little too perfect.”
