Slot calls Guardiola his biggest coaching inspiration before Anfield clash

Arne Slot has cited Pep Guardiola as his biggest inspiration in coaching ahead of the Dutchman having the chance to topple the great Manchester City boss on Sunday.

The Liverpool head coach was playing as a midfielder for Sparta Rotterdam when Guardiola was managing Barcelona, a team many have claimed as the best of the 21st century in European football.

But now he has a chance to pull 11 points clear of Guardiola’s City with the two teams meeting at Anfield on Sunday. And he said: ‘It is not about admiration but there are few people in football who, when you watch, they never let you down.

‘That has been Lionel Messi, who is always a joy to watch. And nine times out of 10 the games of (Guardiola’s) Barcelona, Bayern Munich or City have been a joy to watch for everyone who loves football. So that’s why I like to watch his teams play.

‘He was the one who invented – maybe not invented, maybe it was done 100 years ago – or came up with the idea of inverted full backs and then thought, “Right, now I’m going to push my centre back (John Stones) into midfield”.

‘You always see new things or inventions with him. They have a very good and clear playing style. Always an interesting game plan as well.’

Slot was watching as City imploded against his former club Feyenoord on Tuesday night, drawing 3-3 from 3-0 up, and the Dutchman has been in touch with ex-colleagues at the Rotterdam club.

‘What made this game special for me was more sitting at home, putting the volume up and hearing the Feyenoord fans singing my name,’ added Slot. ‘That’s the biggest compliment you can get if you leave a club, that the fans still like you.

‘Of course in Holland and for me as a Feyenoord fan, I could hardly believe what I saw. At 3-1 you thought, “OK…” but then City took control again. Then (clicks fingers) it was 3-2 and then 3-3! You don’t see this very often.

‘I spoke to more than a few people to congratulate them but it was not in a tactical manner. Not asking what they did, I can analyse that game myself. Take nothing away at all from the result but it was a dominant performance from City – any other day they would have won that game.’