Arne Slot was taken by surprise by his sacking as Liverpool manager but bears no ill will towards the club's owners, FSG, according to reports. The Dutchman was dismissed last weekend, just 12 months after guiding the Reds to their second Premier League title in 35 years, following a disappointing title defence that saw them finish fifth.
Slot had expressed confidence he would remain in charge after securing Champions League football on the final day of the season, saying he had 'every reason to believe' he would stay. However, less than a week later, he was bidding farewell to Anfield. Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan described the sacking as 'an absolute thunder in a clear blue sky' for Slot, adding that the manager was 'still recovering from the absolute blow'.
Van der Kraan told talkSPORT that Slot 'wasn't bitter' towards FSG, despite the abrupt end to his tenure. Slot's successor, Andoni Iraola, has already been appointed on a two-year contract, with the club seeking a return to a more aggressive, front-foot style of football that had been lost during Slot's second season.
In an open letter to fans in the Liverpool Echo, Slot described winning the Premier League title as 'beyond special' and thanked supporters for making him feel welcome. He noted that the triumph was 'even more meaningful' because fans could celebrate together, unlike the 2020 title win during the pandemic.
Van der Kraan suggested Slot could soon return to football as the Netherlands national team boss after the World Cup, calling him 'probably the ideal candidate'. Ronald Koeman's contract expires after the tournament, and his future may depend on the Dutch performance in North America.
