Arne Slot provided a typically candid response when asked if he was “delighted” with Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Bologna, emphasizing that there is still plenty of room for improvement.
In his first Champions League match at Anfield, Slot witnessed goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah secure the win.
Despite being heavy favourites, Liverpool controlled only 52 percent of possession and registered fewer shots on goal than Bologna, with 9 compared to Bologna’s 12.
Both teams had one significant scoring opportunity, as noted by FotMob, but the visitors failed to capitalise on theirs.
While securing the three points was crucial, Slot made it clear in his post-match interview with TNT Sports that he was not entirely satisfied with his team’s performance.
“I don’t know if there were many things I was ‘delighted’ with, apart from both goals, because we scored two very good goals – especially the second one,” he explained.
“It came from a moment when Diogo dropped.
“Because they played man-mark all over the pitch, if a striker drops and keeps the ball [you are through].
“Great ball from Virgil, great attack, great overlapping from Trent as well, so I was delighted with that goal.
“But it’s always difficult to play a team that takes that much risk and is constantly on top of you.
“Second half was better in pressing, I felt, than the first half.
“So overall good result, but I wouldn’t use the word ‘delighted’ myself today.”
He added: “Bologna made it difficult, similar to Atalanta last season they played a man-mark all over the pitch.
“Then you have to wait for the right moment, because if you play through it, then it’s completely open.
“I think it was many times completely open, but then the last pass…could have been better, let’s put it that way.”
“It’s difficult, so if the other team plays man-marking all over the pitch and you play a long ball and you don’t win it, they have the ball again,” Arne Slot continued.
“I saw sometimes heads go down a bit, ‘ah, again a loss of the ball’.
“Then they waited too long before they started pressing again and then you give the initiative away. So in my opinion that happened a bit too much in the first half.
“Second half we started off pressing much better, and we had more control in my opinion in the second half than we had in the first half.
“With the ball, it’s not easy if they are constantly one-v-one.
“I don’t think our goalkeeper, in the first eight games, touched the ball as many times as today.
“But he’s the only player who’s free, because they play man-v-man.
“Then we kept the ball better in the second half than the first.”
Read more: Arne Slot leaps to defence of struggling Liverpool star
Vitor Bruno sympathises with under-pressure Man United boss Erik ten Hag
Martin Zubimendi finally breaks silence on snubbing Liverpool transfer
