Pep Lijnders has spoken about his pride in the work that Arne Slot is doing since becoming Liverpool manager.
The 41 year-old left the club in the summer and landed the role of manager at RB Salzburg who is currently in fifth place in the Austrian league albeit having played two games less than the four teams above them.
Along with Jurgen Klopp and Peter Krawietz they helped build a iconic period in Liverpool’s esteemed history, but despite making a clean break from the club, Lijnders says he is keeping a close eye on their progress and is delighted to see the start that Liverpool have made as the Echo reported (per The Times).
“I’m really proud and I’m really blessed that Arne is doing what he’s doing. Because this was the whole idea when we leave, that we leave the club and the team in a really, really strong moment.
That was so important for us. I speak now for myself, but it’s so nice to see them play, to see ‘our’ boys perform so well.
“The guys who we had so high hopes for, who we signed when we built a new team, the guys are flourishing. So, I couldn’t be more proud of what’s happening. I always believed all the time that it would go like this.”
Despite Klopp announcing that season 2023/4 would be his last in charge at Liverpool, Lijnders says he never had any desire to take over, saying that it was always the plan to leave as soon as a partnership.
“I never considered it (staying) because we ended the job together. We said we will finish together and I go my own way as a head coach. That is what I’m really happy about, I really love that.”
The current link that Lijnders has to Liverpool is an important one as Stefan Bajcetic is currently on a season-long long to Salzburg while Bobby Clark joined on a permanent deal in the summer.
Both academy graduates have found the early stages of adapting to a new league a challenging one, but Lijnders is no doubt at all that they will come good in the long run.
"Listen, I know Bobby really well. I know the passion he has for the ball, to score goals, to go into the box, to be creative. He will be completely fine.
“Stefan, we know he didn’t play for one year, one and a half year even (because of adductor and calf injuries) . So he needs time as well."
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.