Arne Slot directly addresses Liverpool future speculation - 'That is my take on it'
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SportFootballLiverpool FCArne Slot has addressed his own future amid ongoing scrutiny of his position after a difficult second season in charge of LiverpoolArne Slot believes he will remain Liverpool head coach next season as he directly addressed speculation over his future at Anfield.Slot has come under intense scrutiny with the Reds having experienced a hugely underwhelming defence of the Premier League title they won in dominant fashion last season.Liverpool have yet to secure Champions League qualification and still need three points from their final two games at Aston Villa on Friday and at home to Brentford on the final weekend nine days later.Former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso has been continually linked with an interest in taking over as Liverpool boss ever since being axed by Real Madrid in January after barely six months in charge at the Bernabeu.READ MORE: Liverpool £35m transfer has long been off as brutal stance sadly proved correctREAD MORE: Liverpool transfer dilemma settled as recruitment team told to move for £100m manBut Slot has been planning for next season in the expectation he will remain in his position.“I don’t think I am deciding that alone by myself, but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season," he said."First of all, I am contracted to this club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it."But if you don’t have the best season, especially if you compare with last season – if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate – but if you compare it with last season, this has definitely not been a great season, then it is also normal that criticism comes."We have all had our share, and with ‘all’ I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share.
That is how things work nowadays if you don’t win the league.”FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageSlot added: “I think the world has gone to if a manager or a club doesn’t have their best season there is always a debate about that, it is not only Liverpool it is all around the world."That is the new reality in football.
It is not up to me to judge the people who judge me, they have every right to have their opinion and in this modern time everyone can share his opinion as well."By the way, this happened 10, 15 years ago as well but then you did it in a pub and not everyone heard it. Now it is also probably done in the pub – if I read what they are saying they must have drunk a little bit!"Now it is more out in the open than it was back in the days, and that is everywhere the same so I would be surprised if that had been different here at Liverpool."Slot has also confirmed he has already been part of talks with prospective new signings ahead of the forthcoming transfer window.“We know where we go on tour, so our plans have been made and talks have been ongoing between the club and new players and I am involved in that," he said.Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Arne SlotLiverpool FCBarclay's Premier League