Arne Slot has for the first time publicly spoke about Trent Alexander-Arnold's threatening exit in Liverpool
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has publicly spoke about the decision of Trent Alexander-Arnold to leave the club (image: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
Arne Slot has admitted his disappointment that Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool this summer. The vice-captain of Reds confirmed on Monday that he would leave his boy's club at the end of his contract.
Alexander-Arnold, who is now expected to join Real Madrid, has received a play of sections of the Fanbase in Liverpool for his decision. And although Slot supporters would not tell how to respond in the remaining matches of the season, he admitted that he was also disappointed to lose the English international, but supported the Reds to replace him with the next “very good player”.
“I think that like everyone else who loves Liverpool and is a fan of us, we are disappointed that he is leaving,” said Liverpool's head coach this morning at his press conference. “A good person leaves, but also a very good full-back leaves us.
“I also worked at clubs such as AZ and Feyenoord where a very good player leaves the club every season. So I am more used to it. The experience I have and this club also leaves if a very good player leaves the next very good player. That is probably what happens again.
“Do you know where Trent is going? He has said nothing, only that he will leave, so it is impossible to comment if he will play World Cup in the club. You see my smile, we both know where he is going!
“People have an opinion, trent, I or someone, nothing new. Maybe a little more negative than he is used to. I am not here to tell the fans how to respond.
“The boys had a few days off, so I will wait and see how he feels. I spoke to whatsapp, but let's wait. I am not here to tell the fans how to respond.
“Trent said that as a team and club we are not too distracted by this announcement, so I hope that all energy goes to the players, the fans and as possible to Trent, unless it is positive.”
Slot confirmed that Conor Bradley was set to replace Alexander-Arnold in his starting XI against Arsenal on Sunday and claimed that his team is still in depth.
“Team selection will be the same as last week, the same process,” said Slot, whose champions will want to jump back from their 3-1 loss in Chelsea. “If Conor was available, he would have started against Chelsea, so there is a first chance that he could start.
“Conor will start, he needs playing time, games under his belt to be prepared for next season. Unfortunately he has not been fit for the entire season, but to become a good player, you have to be fit the entire season, but we have a lot of confidence in him as a very good full-back for Liverpool.
“Light in the right side? Is that true? We have Conor and Curtis Jones, so four players. I agree that one of them is the ideal position and (Joe) Gomez can play well there, but the Favorite is Center-Back, Jarell (quansah) it is the same.
“I think it's a surprise for you when I say we're looking at here or, we don't talk about the positions we want to improve the team.
“We have just won the competition, we were so competitive versus PSG, it is not easy to find better players to improve us, they must be available and we have to be able to pay them.”