Erik ten Hag reveals why he believes Arne Slot is a "very good match" for Liverpool

While Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag didn't quite voice his support for Arne Slot’s recent appointment as Liverpool head coach, the Dutchman nonetheless described his compatriot as a “very good match” for his new club.

In a detailed interview with Dutch newspaper AD, ten Hag explained that he thought that Slot's arrival at Anfield showed that it was a great moment for Dutch football.

“We’ve played against each other before, of course, but I think that’s really great. Also for Dutch football, for our coach training,” he said.

"I think the fact that there are now two Dutch managers at the helm at Liverpool and Manchester United is fantastic for our football."

Slot is well-suited to Liverpool’s style of play

As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on the potential rivalry between these two Dutch managers in what ten Hag referred to as “the largest competition in the world”

When asked whether he had been in contact with Slot, ten Hag revealed that they had not yet spoken but expected that to change soon: “No, we haven’t had contact yet, but that will happen."

Ten Hag went on to praise Slot’s achievements at Feyenoord and explained why he believes Slot is well-suited to Liverpool’s style of play.

"It is fantastic what Arne has achieved at Feyenoord, how he has helped that club get back on track," he said.

"And the football that Liverpool prefers to play also suits Arne Slot completely. I think it’s a very good match.”

Liverpool in an enviable position

Ten Hag then implied that Slot is joining Liverpool at a time when the club is in a much better state compared to when he took over at Manchester United.

“This was by far the toughest season I have experienced as a coach. The demands at United are incredibly high, and we had to rebuild from the ground up,” he said.

He pointed out that the structures off the pitch and the winning attitude fostered by Jurgen Klopp’s tenure have left Liverpool in an enviable position — a stark contrast to the situation when he arrived at Old Trafford.

“Slot is coming to a club with a well-established structure after the Klopp years, and the squad is incomparable to what I had when I joined United. At United, everything had to change,” he explained.

The Manchester United manager acknowledged the progress his team has made but emphasised that there is still a long way to go.

“We have made steps, otherwise, we wouldn’t have won two trophies. But we are still not at the point where we have a winning culture in all respects," he admitted.

"Our standards, our values, still need to be raised in many areas. If this club is to return to where it was ten years ago, winning the Premier League and Champions Leagues, we still have a long way to go.”