Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted it is a compliment for his team to be under big pressure at this stage of the season, but feels they may have been underestimated, particularly in the Champions League.
TNT Sports Brasil and their journalist Fred Caldeira have an exclusive interview with the Liverpool manager today ahead of their clash with Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League last 16.
The Reds head into the tie as favourites after a superb season so far that has them sitting clear at the top of the Premier League and having qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League after topping the table during the league phase.
Few had predicted a season such as this for them, with many believing they would struggle in their first season under Slot after he replaced Jurgen Klopp in the summer.
That has not been the case, and the pressure is now on for them to end the campaign with the titles it deserves.
Slot was asked if that pressure is a compliment to him and his team and he insists it is, even if he feels they were underestimated initially.
“I think it’s definitely a compliment to everyone involved with Liverpool this season, but it’s also a bit of a surprise that we were not contenders at all because we are one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he said.
“I think Liverpool have shown in their history, and in recent years as well, that they were able to do really well in the Champions League. I also know that in the last two seasons weren’t the same as the one Jurgen had before.
“But yeah, it’s a compliment that nobody would have expected us here and that we are here now. But there’s still a long way to go with a difficult start for both teams.”
All eyes will once again be on Mohamed Salah to see if he can play a pivotal role once again, as he has all season.
The Egyptian is enjoying the best season of his career by far, with 30 goals and 22 assists in 39 games to date making him the leading player in Europe.
Liverpool are now in the business end of the season, though, and for some now is the time to judge the forward to see if he can bring home the success that his and Liverpool’s performances deserve.
Slot believes that is probably a little bit unfair, but insists that Salah is accustomed to such a way of thinking anyway
“I judge him also in the coming weeks and months, but I’ve also judged him in the last few months,” he added.
“I think it’s not fair to say to only judge a player in his last game, but he knows better than us all, probably, that the last stage of a season is probably the most important one. People are even more interested in what you do.
“I don’t think everyone around the world watched all these group games that we’ve played but if you go to this stage of the tournament, everybody is watching. That’s not new for him, not new for us but we are definitely looking forward to being involved in this competition.”
