Liverpool manager Arne Slot is ahead to reunite with compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy, even if his memories of their fights in the Netherlands are not happy.
As Feyenoord manager, Slot drew and lost to the former Manchester United striker, who managed PSV Eindhoven for just over a year, but had the last laugh as his team finished seven games obviously winning the Eredivisie title.
“I was expecting you to tell the people over here that I lost once and drew once, but you made it positive saying we won the league title, which was true,” said Slot when his title win was highlighted.
“Cody Gakpo was in his team, so I am happy he is in my team now when we face Ruud because Cody scored (in a 4-3 victory).
“Ruud is first and foremost a great person. I met him once or twice and did very well when he was in the PSV because the PSV during the last year and a half has been in the most sensible of the classification of the league.
“But if you glance at the moment part of Ruud’s season, they were not even wasting at all.
“After his departure, they bought a few more players than when he worked there, but he still showed that he can compete for the title.
“He did well at United as well and I am looking forward to seeing him, especially if we win.”
He played well at United and I can’t wait to see him, especially if we win.
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 situation in which he finds himself in Leicester is more complicated.
They are just two points above the relegation zone having taken only one point from the last three matches after victory in Van Nistelrooy’s first match in charge having taken over from Steve Cooper.
“I think the positive thing is that the groups that are at the back of the league table, more commonly lose games, but Ruud is there, 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 that’s the smart thing about the 15 minutes (when they conceded twice in the 6-3 win over Tottenham) because we showed that we perceive that we can’t underestimate a minute in the Premier League because then 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 have Federico Chiesa in his team during the last kick-off at Anfield.
The beginning of the foreigner Italy in her career in Liverpool was plagued by problems, having arrived late to the window without preseason and fighting to be fit.
After playing part of the Carabao Cup win at Southampton, he missed London on Sunday due to illness.
“Unfortunately for him because he opposed Southampton, however, unfortunately, so we may not bring him into the game,” added Slot, who continues without defenders Conor Bradley (Ischio-Jambiers) and Ibrahima Konate (knee).
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in