Arne Slot, the new Liverpool boss, has received high praise from Gini Wijnaldum, who claims that Slot is on the same level as Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho on the training pitch. Wijnaldum, who currently plays for Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq, will be heading to Euro 2024 as part of the Netherlands squad, which includes three Liverpool players.
Wijnaldum believes that his Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch will have a great time under Slot’s management. Speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, Wijnaldum expressed his confidence in Slot, stating that Liverpool has acquired a fantastic successor in him.
Although relatively unknown outside of Holland, Slot’s style of play and ability to develop individuals caught Liverpool’s attention during their search for a new manager. Wijnaldum reassures fans that the fact that Slot is not well-known in England should not be a concern. Drawing from his own experience, Wijnaldum recalls when he joined Newcastle United after playing for PSV Eindhoven and representing the Dutch national team. He notes that the Premier League tends to focus primarily on domestic talent and may overlook players from other countries.
Wijnaldum’s confidence in Slot stems from his personal experience training at Feyenoord earlier this season. He describes Slot’s coaching as being of a very high level, comparing it to Klopp and Mourinho. Wijnaldum acknowledges that Slot will face a different set of challenges in the Premier League but believes he is capable of replicating his success at Feyenoord.
Wijnaldum’s praise carries weight considering his crucial role in Liverpool’s recent successes under Klopp. However, both Wijnaldum and Gravenberch’s starting positions for the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 opener against Poland are uncertain. The final friendly against Iceland will provide more clarity on Ronald Koeman’s team selection.
In the tournament, the Netherlands find themselves in Group D alongside Poland, France, and Austria. It will be an exciting challenge for both Wijnaldum and his Liverpool teammates as they represent their country and prepare for a new season under the guidance of Arne Slot at Liverpool.