I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 941: Chapter 29: Slot’s Success Once Again (Part 2)

Slot’s approachable nature quickly persuaded everyone around him. For example, former assistant coach and Dutch international Johan de Wolf, who told Slot that his passion for the game and understanding of it made him want to start playing again.

Unfortunately, de Wolf later retired due to a knee injury, unable even to engage in mild exercise.

Then there was Jens Toornstra, who was a regular player for Feyenoord before Slot’s arrival, but quickly became a substitute after Slot came, eventually transferring to Utrecht.

Even so, he still says that Slot was the best coach he had worked with because "his communication skills were too strong."

The "two biggest setbacks" in Slot’s career occurred at Alkmaar. The first was in 2020 when the Eredivisie was canceled due to the pandemic, halting his championship battle with Ajax; the second was when Alkmaar dismissed him after discovering his contact with Feyenoord.

Despite the regret, Slot got the job at Feyenoord, facing Diego Simeone, the legendary coach of his first famous career opponent, in a preseason friendly.

The legendary Atletico Madrid boss was Slot’s dream opponent, but he soon became frustrated by the lack of respect felt during the game, and he expressed it in a rather amusing manner.

Guka recalled, "Feyenoord won the match in the last minute, they were celebrating, Slot wanted to shake Simeone’s hand, but Simeone didn’t realize he was the head coach, thinking he might be someone like the kit manager.

"Slot started laughing, then Simeone thought he was mocking him and wanted to punch him.

"Later he also had some conflicts with Mourinho, but he said, ’I have to accept that time because I lost.’ Twice, big-name coaches didn’t take him seriously, but now he has beaten Ancelotti, next up might be Guardiola. Three years ago, they still thought he was the kit manager."

Slot experienced another period of not being valued again in the 2023/24 season when he failed to defend the Eredivisie title, as Eindhoven swept the championship that season.

Slot later admitted that he turned down Tottenham in the summer of 2023, and Guka also revealed that he once shared a private plane with Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, with Brighton also showing interest in him.

However, he decided to stay, and after failing to win consecutive championships, the media began to speculate that he should not have stayed, saying that clubs like Nottingham Forest were more his level.

What those media didn’t know was that Slot was already negotiating with Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, almost reaching a deal but keeping it low-key to avoid repeating what happened at Alkmaar.

At the time, Slot had to hear about some rumors regarding the Reds’ managerial position, rumors of his future team with club legend Xabi Alonso, and the disappointment of Liverpool fans when Xabi Alonso did not arrive.

Then, he was once again motivated, now ensuring his name earned respect once more.

After Klopp’s departure, the coach somehow made Liverpool better, as Guka explained, "The Slot tactics" have fully come into play.

"I think everyone has seen Slot’s style," he said. "He always says he wants to create a good chance, not just half a chance, so you have to remain patient in possession, which is the biggest difference.

"At Feyenoord, he changed this in just a few weeks. He likes high pressing, having defenders positioned high up in midfield, but mainly it’s about patience.

"Because Liverpool has a good roster, expectations are high, but if you put Slot on the training ground, he will solve problems with the players, they all say that if you give him six weeks to study a system, they will get better and better."

Now the question is, as Slot’s career continues to progress, what will happen when things start to go wrong?

So far, everything is going well on Merseyside, Slot is a master at press conferences, and many people are wondering: how long will this last?

"It’s the same in the Netherlands, we always say we want to see what he’s like when he loses three games in a row, but he never has.

"So we also asked him, ’You’re always calm and composed, but what if you lose three in a row?’ He answered, ’I’ve never lost,’ and then started laughing.

"That’s how many opponents evaluate him, but he always dominates the conversation, always explains methodically, he doesn’t get angry, so I think even if he starts losing, it won’t change."

Such an opponent is always difficult to handle. In fact, in the post-match press conference, Alonso also felt Slot’s brilliance.

He very much hoped Slot could say something inappropriate.

But Slot’s experience is very rich, and this victory over Real Madrid also made his position at Liverpool more secure. After all, his predecessor Klopp found it difficult to do like this.

Klopp coached Liverpool for nearly nine seasons, facing Real Madrid six times with a record of 1 draw and 5 losses, and winning a single match was hard to come by. Real Madrid had become Klopp’s "nightmare."

But now, facing Klopp’s "nightmare," Liverpool’s new boss Slot easily copes, a 2-0 victory once again proving himself.

From officially assuming the role of Liverpool manager in October 2015 to stepping down in the summer of 2024, Klopp led Liverpool for nearly nine seasons, helping Liverpool achieve a great renaissance.

In 2019, he led the team to lift the big ear cup, in 2020 led the team to win the league title again after 30 years, and also won the FA Cup, League Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Super Cup, and Community Shield, Klopp’s Reds achieved a grand slam of trophies.

Excellent results + 8 championship trophies, Klopp wrote his name into Liverpool’s history, becoming a club legend.

But behind these honors, there is always one club that Klopp found hard to surpass, and that is Real Madrid.

During his tenure at Liverpool, facing Real Madrid six times, Klopp found victory elusive, including two Champions League final defeats, a heartbreaking sorrow.

Champions League final, Karius’ fatal mistake, Liverpool lost 1-3.

2020-21 Champions League quarter-finals, Liverpool eliminated by Real Madrid with an aggregate of 1-3 away and 0-0 at home.

Champions League final, Klopp’s Liverpool dominated throughout, but Courtois was exceptionally heroic, losing 0-1 again.

2022-23 Champions League round of 16, 2-5 at home and 0-1 away were defeated by Real Madrid in both legs.

This wasn’t the first time Slot had beaten Real Madrid, yet he showed no pride. Facing the journalists’ questions, Slot said, "You know, beating a team that has won the Champions League many times is very special."

"Over the years, they have always been a painful memory for Liverpool, and it’s nice we could beat them in this match. In such big games, you’re up against the best players, so a victory is always good."

"I don’t think we’ve reached the final yet, after all, they are Real Madrid."

...

Slot’s words maintained respect for Real Madrid, and the Liverpool fans seemed to follow the coach’s style, not provoking Real Madrid’s fans.

Alonso tried to motivate the players for the second leg, hoping for a comeback at Anfield, but it didn’t work...

Right before the second leg match.

It might have been shouted by a kid from Sports City, could have been a cry from an extreme fan, or maybe just someone’s mumbling, in short, the players in the locker room suddenly had the drive and goal.

They wanted to deliver "one last Champions League" for Chen Zhong.

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