Ahead of the UEFA Champions League matchday 3 clash where Liverpool will host Villarreal, Liverpool manager Arne Slot attended a press conference to answer media questions. In the first part of the conference, Slot discussed the injuries to Szoboszlai and Frimpong, Wirtz's recent performance, the team's home record, and rotation plans amidst a packed schedule. He also recalled his deep friendship with Villarreal manager Iñigo Pérez and the reason for their reduced contact before the match.
Reporter: Good afternoon. Can we start by discussing the injuries to Szoboszlai and Frimpong? These two injuries were very unfortunate. Do you feel it was a bit rushed to bring them back too early?
Slot: I think the specific situations for both players are completely different. Jeremie Frimpong clearly suffered a new muscle injury, and it happened probably two or three minutes after he came on as a substitute, which is very difficult to predict. We have to wait for his recovery, but as it stands, it's unlikely he'll be back before the upcoming international break. We will do everything we can to help him recover, but objectively it will be very difficult to use him in the near future.
Dominic Szoboszlai's situation is different. He hasn't sustained a new injury; the discomfort is essentially the same as last week. His injury has not worsened, but we may need to be more patient with him and wait for him to fully recover. This doesn't mean he needs a long layoff; his current condition is largely consistent with last week, we just need to be more cautious with the timing.
I really appreciate the sacrifice he showed a few days ago. In a tough, highly physical away game against Brentford, he proactively volunteered to contribute to the team, which speaks volumes about his professionalism.
Reporter: Could you also talk about Wirtz? There's a lot of attention on him, and in the last Premier League match, he created at least nine scoring chances from open play, becoming the first player to achieve this in over five years, the last being Sadio Mané. This question might sound a bit harsh, but given he created so many chances that the team couldn't convert into goals, have we fully unlocked his best form yet?
Slot: I think his performance in the last two games has been outstanding. He played exceptionally well in the away match against Linz, and a few days ago against Brentford, he provided tremendous tactical support to the team, both in terms of ball distribution and pressing off the ball.
I hope he can maintain this high standard. Everyone asks me about him almost daily; every technical detail of his play is scrutinized under a magnifying glass. But when he performs exceptionally well, it's equally important to objectively and fairly acknowledge his contributions.
Reporter: Tomorrow will be the first of four consecutive home games for the team across three different competitions. We know Liverpool haven't tasted victory at home in the Premier League this season. Do you feel the team experiences more psychological pressure at home than away?
Slot: It's undeniable that our away results have been better than at home, but this is still just the beginning of the season. We've also played some very high-quality games at home, for example, the match against Atlético Madrid was excellent, and our performance against Tottenham at home was also very impressive.
Tomorrow is a new Champions League challenge, and if I had to choose, I would 100% prefer to play at home. Of course, the tactical demands of each game are different, and we have to fight game by game. Right now, all my energy is focused solely on Villarreal; we'll talk about other things after this match. Tomorrow's game will be extremely demanding. I know Villarreal very well, and if we want to beat them at home, we have to play at the same high level as we did against Atlético Madrid.
Reporter: The team will face a congested fixture schedule in a short period, but we've had a very strong start in this competition. For the upcoming busy schedule, do you prefer to rotate the squad moderately at this stage, or field the strongest possible lineup to secure wins, allowing for adjustments later in the schedule?
Slot: Against Villarreal, my thinking is to field the starting eleven that is in the best competitive condition right now. However, this lineup might not completely align with external expectations, as some players currently have high levels of physical fatigue. Players with more energy reserves might be better suited to start. I am thoroughly analyzing the game's flow, on one hand considering how to build a competitive starting lineup, and on the other hand, I must plan comprehensively how to change the game's dynamic through substitutions in the second half.
The schedule is very tight until the next international break, but football matches must be played one at a time. Overly long-term planning often can't keep up with changes, just as we just welcomed Gravenberch back and then lost Szoboszlai and Frimpong. Our focus right now is on the team's physical recovery from the last match. The game against Brentford was a high-intensity battle, with both teams' running statistics almost reaching their limits. Therefore, ensuring that every player starting tomorrow is physically and mentally prepared at 100% is crucial.
Reporter: You coached in LaLiga for many years and are very familiar with Villarreal and their head coach, having also worked with him before. What kind of contest do you anticipate for tomorrow's clash?
Slot: For me personally, this is indeed a special game because Iñigo Pérez is a dear friend of mine. We've known each other since the Athletic Bilbao youth academy and later played together in the senior first team for many years. After he retired, I immediately invited him to join my coaching staff as an assistant coach. We've been through a lot together and built a deep friendship.
It's an honor to compete against him on such a prestigious stage as the Champions League. He knows my tactical ideas inside out; he knows everything about me. At the same time, Villarreal is also a team I've always followed closely, and I'm very familiar with their players' characteristics. Tomorrow's reunion will have a somewhat magical feeling, but it's undoubtedly a wonderful thing.
Reporter: Speaking of Iñigo Pérez, did you communicate with each other when the Champions League draw results were announced? How often have you been calling or texting each other recently?
Slot: It's often interesting how when two teams are about to face each other directly, it subtly tests previously close personal relationships. We usually communicate very frequently, but once it's confirmed that we'll meet as opponents on the pitch, communication between us tends to stop abruptly. To maintain appropriate boundaries, people intentionally create a bit of distance. So, recently, it's actually been the period where we've had the least contact.
Normally, we call each other periodically to discuss La Liga, the Premier League, football tactics, or even family life. But with the big match approaching, out of professional habit, we haven't been in touch recently.
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