Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says he “must have done a lot wrong” for the boos which followed their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur to be directed at him.
Supporters made their frustrations clear at the final whistle after the latest disappointing result of the term.
It was another blow to a season that is on the edge ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg against Galatasaray on Wednesday, with Liverpool needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first game.
Slot shared the frustrations of the fans regarding results, and acknowledged that winning is the key element to turning attitudes around.
“People have told me when I came here that — if it (the booing) was also towards me — this club is different than other clubs,” Slot told reporters in his pre-Galatasaray press conference. “They will support the manager for such a long time. So if it’s true, what you’re saying, I don’t feel this at all, but you are supposing something, then I must have done a lot of things wrong.
“And that’s never a nice feeling to have, because being in the club that’s always so supportive for the manager, in good and bad times, then if they are not happy with me, then apparently I’ve done so many things wrong, and that’s never a nice feeling to have.
“But, I also know how the football industry works. Winning can change a lot. That’s what we are trying to achieve tomorrow. And we’re completely ready for that, I can tell you that.”
With Champions League qualification through the Premier League in the balance, progression to the last eight of Europe’s top competition is crucial otherwise pressure will continue to mount on the Dutchman.
Slot admitted that he had made mistakes with some decisions last season when Liverpool won the Premier League title, but his choices are all designed to help his team win.
“All the decisions I’ve made, as any manager everywhere around the world, tries to put his team into a situation that they create more chances than the other team creates and that you outwork the opponent,” Slot continued.
“I think I can say that at this club, but also a lot of clubs have worked, 80 or 90 per cent of the games I’ve managed my teams have outworked the other team. And my teams have created more chances than the other team. That the outcome does not always do justice to what I just said: that’s the beauty of football and being in a low scoring sport. That a deflected shot can be a way of conceding a goal as well.”
Slot may be without Joe Gomez for the game after the centre-back did not take part in training due to issues he picked up in the games against Galatasaray and Tottenham. The 28-year-old will be assessed tomorrow about his availability. Fellow defender Ibrahima Konate is fit after he did not play in the Spurs game because of discomfort in his hamstring.