Slot backs Isak after his strike to get Liverpool move, says this behaviour would never happen at Liverpool.
Arne Slot defends Isak over Newcastle strike and says it would never happen at Liverpool.
Alexander Isak’s choice to go on strike to compel a move away from Newcastle has been defended by Arne Slot, who also stated that Liverpool would never experience a similar circumstance since they would sell any player who made it apparent they wanted to leave the team.
Isak could make his Premier League debut against Burnley on Sunday after securing a transfer from St. James’ Park to Anfield on deadline day for a British record £125 million. However, he is unlikely to start after missing preseason and the first three games of the season due to his refusal to train while still at Newcastle, claiming that promises made to him there had been “broken.”
Asked if Isak’s decision to go on strike reflects badly on the 26-year-old, Slot said: “No, I just look at the club. It’s not necessary at our club, because we also trade players. If a player wants to leave and we get the right money for him, this club has shown so many years now that we then sell.
“You can just keep on training here – Lucho [Luis Díaz] and Harvey [Elliott] get their transfers, Tyler Morton gets his transfer, all these players, I can come up with eight, nine, 10 I think in the last window, that just conduct themselves in the best possible way.”
Due to his lack of match fitness, Isak only played 18 minutes during the international break. Despite not playing during that period, he had spent some time practicing by himself at his previous club, Real Sociedad, in the summer. Slot acknowledged that it will take some time for the player to catch up, but he is confident that he will finally show off his skills for Liverpool.
“He is one of the best in the world,” said the head coach. “But for him to become the best, I think the best players in the world win trophies.”
“It [the fee] might put pressure on him and me but nothing extra – if you have this [Liverpool badge] on your shirt there is always pressure,” Slot added. “We target a player and we want to have him. We decide what his value is, if that matches with what the club wants then we are not afraid to act. We get that money from trading players and winning the league after we didn’t spend anything at all.”