Liverpool coach Arne Slot said this Monday he was “impressed (but) not surprised” by Bruno Génésio’s Lille, his opponent on Tuesday, a team gifted at “pressing high” and not being “afraid to start from the back.”
“I’m impressed, not surprised, because two or three years ago I played against their current coach, when he was at Rennes. And I was impressed by the way his team played”said the former coach of Feyenoordbeaten 2-1 by the Bretons fin 2022.
This season, “They deserved every point they took” in Champions League and, yet, “they were unlucky with the draw”added Slot at a press conference.
After an initial defeat against the Sporting of Reuben Amorim (2-0), Lille beat them Real Madrid (1-0), overturned theAtlético (3-1) in the Spanish capital, contained the Juventus (1-1) then mastered Bologna (2-1) et Storm Graz (3-2).
“I expect an open match. It doesn’t matter if it’s Marseille or Real Madrid or any team opposite, they press high, they are not afraid to come from behind. (.. .) That’s what Lille does, and that’s where they’re good.”noted Slot.
-The Dutchman, however, does not rule out a change of approach on the part of Génesiocar “many coaches have changed their game plan” usual when they challenge Liverpool. “You’ll have to ask their coach: is he going to keep the same style, or is he planning to change?”he continued to address journalists.
Ibrahima Konatethe French defender of Liverpoolalso praised an opponent “with a lot of quality”who comes to Anfield “to achieve a result”.
“Perhaps the teams they played against underestimated them before the match. But the Champions League, we know that it is a match which brings extra energy to each player, to each team”he developed.
Liverpoolcurrent leader of Premier Leaguewon their first six matches of the league stage. One point is enough for him on Tuesday to secure his place in the round of 16. THE Reds have a complete squad, with the exception of the defender Joe Gomez and the attacker Diogo Jotaunavailable during “next weeks”according to Slot.
