Open in App
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Newsletter
  • Liverpool.com

    Georginio Wijnaldum compares Arne Slot training sessions to Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho

    By Tom Malley,

    9 hours ago

    Arne Slot has had almost six weeks to run the rule over his Liverpool players and implement his style of play ahead of this weekend's Premier League opener away to Ipswich Town .

    From what the majority of players have come out and said about the Dutchman's training sessions, things seem to be going pretty well for both parties, with positive results against Real Betis , Arsenal , Manchester United and now Sevilla backing that up.

    But able to provide a further - and eye-opening- insight into Slot's training sessions is his countryman and former Reds midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum , who has already featured for three clubs since leaving Anfield in the summer of 2021.

    READ MORE: Why Liverpool is selling so many young players as Arne Slot branded 'ruthless'

    READ MORE: Arne Slot warned Liverpool transfer stance could backfire after Martin Zubimendi setback

    The Dutchman initially signed a three-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain , before signing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq on another three-year contract two years later, linking up with former Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson in doing so.

    Sandwiched in between his first season at PSG and last year's move to Al-Ettifaq, however, was a season-long loan spell with Roma, who were then managed by Jose Mourinho. Wijnaldum missed the majority of the season through injury, yet still featured 23 times for the Italians.

    Prior to moving to Saudi Arabia last summer, Wijnaldum actually trained with Feyenoord for a week, shortly after leaving PSG. Still managing the Dutch outfit as the time was none other than Slot himself, which enabled Wijnaldum to experience his countryman's style of play as well as management skills.

    Having therefore trained under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Mourinho at Roma and Slot at Feyenoord, Wijnaldum has now revealed what all three are like and the striking similarity they all possess - and firmly believes Slot has the qualities to get it right on Merseyside.

    “The training was at a very high level,” Wijnaldum told The Athletic of Slot's training sessions last summer. “I can compare it with Klopp and Mourinho and then I say Slot is at the same level.”

    Despite being younger, having far less experience and winning remarkably less than Klopp and Mourinho during his managerial career, Slot doesn't seem to be too far off when it comes to the way in which he trains his players, according to Wijnaldum.

    In the past, those efforts have been relayed onto the pitch, with Slot enjoying enough success at Feyenoord to land himself the Liverpool job as Klopp's successor, a man who had won every available trophy on offer to him bar the Europa League during his time at Anfield.

    Back-to-back Manager of the Year awards in the Netherlands is also another indicator that Slot must clearly know what he is doing and, while the Eredivisie is not quite the same as the Premier League, the Dutchman's passion, intensity and leadership appear to be second to none, regardless of where he's managing.

    Expand All
    Comments / 0
    Add a Comment
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Most Popular newsMost Popular

    Comments / 0