‘If a Player Decides Not to Come…’: Arne Slot Opens up on Liverpool’s Failed Pursuit of Martin Zubimendi – News18
FILE- Liverpool manager Arne Slot looks on from the sidelines prior to an international friendly soccer match against Arsenal, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
The Real Sociedad player was at the top of Liverpool’s wish list ahead of the Dutchman’s debut Premier League season, but the 25-year-old opted out of a switch to the Premiership.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot opened up on the side’s failed pursuit of Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season of the Premier League.
The Real Sociedad player was at the top of Liverpool’s wish list ahead of the Dutchman’s debut Premier League season, but the 25-year-old opted out of a switch to the Premiership.
Slot voiced that the Merseyside club have a strong squad and it isn’t also easy to improve an already well-built unit.
“I’ve said many times already that our squad is really strong and it’s not so easy to find players who can help us or improve the squad,” Slot told reporters ahead of his team’s opener.
“Zubimendi was one of them to be fair, but he decided not to come. We go forward with the ones we have,” Slot asserted.
Zubimendi decided not to come, we did every effort. If a player decides not to come then it’s obvious he’s not coming,” he added.
Slot also recognised the efforts of Wataru Endo, who has done well for the side from the deep-lying midfield role.
“Endo did well in pre-season,” he added.
Slot also lauded Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, who has been working hard to find recruits that fit the bill at Liverpool.
“We’re in a good place. Richard is trying to strengthen the squad,” Slot revealed.
Slot also expressed his bemusement with the assumed motif of a team losing its place in the top echelons of the sport if they fail to strengthen their side,
“That argument I don’t understand — if you don’t strengthen the team you become weaker,” said Slot.
“That’s a bit weird because normally you would either stay the same — and I truly believe that (on) the training ground you can help players and the teams to improve, and that is also what happened here in the recent years, that the training ground really helped the team to improve,” the 45-year-old said.
“If you keep bringing players in sometimes the energy in the group goes down as well,” he clarified.
Liverpool begin their PL campaign against newsly promoted Ipswich Town on Sadturday.
