Dirk Kuyt believes there is nothing unusual about the pressure Arne Slot is facing, insisting that managing a club the size of Liverpool will always come with its challenges.
Despite leading the Reds to Premier League title glory last season, the current campaign has presented a number of problems for the Dutchman.
Not only are Liverpool already out of the title race, but they are also battling to secure Champions League qualification for next season. The recent defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion marked the club’s tenth league loss of the campaign.
Slot has come under increasing scrutiny at various points this season, with his side even booed off after conceding a costly late goal against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.
However, Kuyt believes the pressure on his fellow countryman is no different from what Jurgen Klopp experienced at various stages during his near nine-year tenure at Anfield, as he sought to deliver consistent results.
He said: “I think if you are the manager of Liverpool, there is always pressure and I think if you asked Jurgen the same question, everyone showed today he was and is really loved.
“But he also had to get results for a club like Liverpool, so I don’t think much changes for Arne because he knows he has to get results.
“It was (that way) since the first moment he came in during his first season, and it is also the same situation when you are winning the Premier League.
“It is also something that I faced as a player. You always need to get results. People expect that you will have success and that success is something that comes with a club like Liverpool.
“There is also always pressure and there was during the time with Jurgen, and when he came back, everyone saw he is really relaxed because he’s not the manager of Liverpool anymore.
“But I also think everyone could see how much of an effect it was to be involved for such a long time as manager for Liverpool, although he was very successful.
“I think every manager there is a lot of pressure to get that success, and I think Arne should be very proud of his success he has already achieved in such a short period as a manager of Liverpool.
“And who knows, Liverpool have done it before, not being very successful in the league and still been very successful in Europe, so I really hope that will be the case.”
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