Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is ahead for a reunion with compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy, even if his memories of their fights in the Netherlands are not happy.
As manager of Feyenoord, Slot drew and lost to the former Manchester United striker, who was boss of PSV Eindhoven for just over a year, but had the last laugh as his team finished seven points clear in winning the Eredivisie title.
“I was hoping you would tell other people here that I lost once and tied once, but you made it positive by saying we won the league name, which is true,” Slot said when his name was highlighted.
“Cody Gakpo on his team, so I am satisfied that he is on my team now when we play against Ruud because Cody scored (in the 4-3 victory).
“Ruud is above all a very typical person. I met him once or twice and he did very well when he was at PSV, because PSV have been more sensible about qualifying for a year and a half.
“But if you look at the current part of Ruud’s season, they weren’t even wasting anything anymore.
“After he left they started buying a few more players than they did when he was working there but he still showed he can compete for the title.
“He’s also done at United and I look forward to seeing that, especially if we win. “
He played well in United and I’m going forward to see him, especially if we won.
Having lost the title to Feyenoord, Van Nistelrooy quit with one game of the season remaining citing a lack of support from the club.
However, the scenario in which he is in Leicester is more difficult.
They are two points above the relegation zone, having picked up one point in their last 3 games following victory in Van Nistelrooy’s first game at the helm after succeeding Steve Cooper.
“The positive thing is that the groups at the back of the table lose most of the games, but Ruud is there and they won too.
“Now he has had two tough results in a row but for these teams it is special for them to go to Anfield and they know if they go to Anfield they have to be at their best so they will never underestimate us.
“Maybe it’s the right thing about those 15 minutes (when they conceded twice in the 6-3 win at Tottenham) because we’ve shown that we perceive that we can’t underestimate a minute in the Premier League because we’re not as smart as we might think we are if we’re in the most sensible part of our game.
Slot hopes to locate Federico Chiesa on his team for the start of Anfield in Anfield.
The Italy international began his Liverpool career beset in trouble, having gone through the window without a pre-season and suffering from physical condition.
After betting the second half of Southampton’s Carabao Cup victory, he missed Sunday’s trip to London through illness.
“Unfortunate for him because he opposed Southampton, but unfortunately he had poor health, so we could not take him to the game,” added Slot, who continues without doing without defenders Conor Bradley (hamstrings) and Ibrahima Konate (knee).
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