Arne Slot is facing intense pressure as he attempts to secure a Champions League spot for Liverpool while competing in Europe. After a difficult 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, the team now faces a major challenge to overturn the deficit and reach the semi-finals.
Domestically, Liverpool currently sits in 5th place. A recent 2-0 win over Fulham has helped them pull four points clear of Chelsea, providing some breathing room in the race for Champions League qualification.
Despite criticism regarding the form of recent signings and the team’s overall consistency, Slot has found support from a familiar face. Marino Pusic, his former assistant manager at Feyenoord, recently spoke out to defend the Dutchman’s work and tactical approach this season.
Marino Pusic Defends Arne Slot
Marino Pusic, who worked alongside Slot from 2021 to 2023, compared the Dutchman’s current tenure to that of former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
“I think Arne deserves much more credit at Liverpool right now than he is getting.”
Pusic argued that Slot achieved a Premier League title in his debut season, whereas Klopp also won the trophy only once during his time at the club. He noted:
“Many people forget how frequently Liverpool has become champion of England in recent decades. Arne did it right away in his first season, but Jurgen Klopp has also only won the Premier League title once.”
🗣️ Arne Slot's assistant at Feyenoord Marino Pusic :
“I think Arne deserves much more credit at Liverpool right now than he is getting.
Many people forget how frequently Liverpool has become champion of England in recent decades. Arne did it right away in his first season, but… pic.twitter.com/vwPlVnIMmA— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) April 13, 2026
The comments from Pusic, who is currently managing Al Jazira in the UAE Pro League, did not sit well with the Liverpool fanbase. Supporters quickly expressed their disagreement with the comparison.
One supporter highlighted the club’s current struggles, questioning the timing of the praise while the team sits in fifth place during the critical month of April. They suggested the comments felt like an attempt to reframe a difficult season as a major success.
- “champion of England” ffs, we’re 5th and wobbling in April. Nice tribute to Slot’s mate, but that line reads like he’s trying to spin a wobble into a trophy case.” they wrote
Other fans argued that Slot’s initial success was largely due to the foundation built by his predecessor. They shared the following views:
- “He won with Klopp’s team. Everyone knows that.”
- “any manager would have won a title with the players that were around by then.”
The frequent comparisons also caused frustration among those who felt the remarks were disrespectful to Klopp’s legacy. Fans expressed their irritation, stating:
- “Did he just try to disrespect Klopp and undermine what he did for Liverpool?”
- “Im getting sick to death of him and his colleagues. Stop mentioning klopp”
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
