Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has aimed a subtle dig at Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot.
Slot, 45, is set to take over the reins as the new Liverpool manager, succeeding immediate past manager Jurgen Klopp.
From the negotiation table with Feyenoord to his official announcement by Liverpool, the media have gone lyrical on Slot’s chances in the Liverpool dugout.
The 2022-23 Eredivisie winner has been tipped as the right man to step into the shoes of Jurgen Klopp with his expressly attacking flair and flamboyant possession-based play.
To the Liverpool media and members of the club’s hierarchy, they have struck gold with the signing of Slot, the man capable of building on the legacies of his heroic predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
Jurgen Klopp himself had a glowing review of Arne Slot when reports emerged the Feyenoord boss is the next helmsman at the dugout at Anfield.
However, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes the media hype around Slot has not reflected reality.
According to the Man United boss, Arne Slot’s Feyenoord cannot be passed as the best team in the just-concluded 2023-24 Eredivisie campaign.
The former Ajax manager said Frans Boazs of PSV Eindhoven did a better job with PSV than Slot.
“People have been going overly lyrical about Feyenoord,’ the Man United boss said to Voetbal International via The Mirror.
“Feyenoord were steady this year, but not top. PSV Eindhoven were two classes better in all areas. In terms of dominating the ball, in terms of putting pressure, in terms of intensity, you name it,” he added.
Slot established himself as one of the most sought-after managers in Europe after he led Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title, including reaching the final of the UEFA Conference League in 2022 where they lost to Roma.
He has won Eredivisie Manager of the Month four times and recently added the 2024 KNVB trophy to his collection with Feyenoord.
Feyenoord finished the 2023-24 Eredivisie as a distant runners-up to champions PSV Eindhoven but Slot has overly a successful campaign for Slot, not ending the season without silverware.
