Alexis Mac Allister has revealed how it was Mohamed Salah who broke the news of Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool back in January, admitting the bombshell was a shock to the entire squad.
Klopp publicly announced on Friday, January 26 that he would be departing Anfield at the end of last season and he told his players at a team meeting shortly before the news broke via official channels on that morning before a hastily arranged press conference was organised for later that afternoon.Mac Allister recalled being informed of Klopp’s intentions earlier this year by Salah, just before the players themselves were told by the manager at the club’s AXA Training Centre.
The pair sit next to each other inside the club’s dressing room due to their squad numbers being 10 (Mac Allister and 11 Salah) and speaking on Gary Lineker’s the Rest is Football podcast, the 2022 World Cup winner said: “It was crazy because we didn’t know anything and it was a day when we went to training and normally it used to be 10:30am or 10:45 and as I was on my way to the training ground, I had a message that we had a meeting at 10:30.
So it was quite weird and when I got to the training ground I was next to Salah in the dressing room so I asked him what was going on and he said the manager is leaving. From Mo Salah, yes. But it was a surprise because no-one expected it.
I think at that time we were first or second in the league so it was a good moment, so there was no reason to leave. But yeah, we had a meeting and basically he explained or he said that he was leaving and we had to accept it.Mac Allister adds: “I think everyone was in shock because no-one expected it.
Why is he leaving? But we understood that it was his decision, he was leaving and we respected it and he earned the right to do whatever he wanted.But we understood straight away that we had to finish the season in a good way. I don’t think it affected us, no.
Maybe that could be the excuse and we could blame him but I don’t think it affected us.”We just ran out of energy at the end and when you compete against teams like Arsenal and Manchester City, you have to be at your best. So no, I don’t think Jurgen’s departure affected us but of course it was a surprise for everyone.
Klopp was subsequently replaced by Arne Slot, who signed a three-year deal after moving from Feyenoord at the start of June, and the Reds currently lead both the Premier League and the new-look Champions League tables as they head into the second week of December.
Mac Allister says he has been delighted with how things have gone so far under the new regime as he talked up the tactical detail the head coach gives to his team.”I think everyone thought it was going to be difficult, but not Arne,” Mac Allister says. “I think from the first day he was very clear with the things he wanted on and off the pitch.”I would say [he made an impact] immediately.
I wasn’t in pre-season because I was with the national team and had a break after the season, so I had a couple of days off but when I arrived to America (for pre-season) I could hear the boys and they were so happy with Arne. They said he was quite different, especially in possession.
I think the main thing is in possession we are more patient, defensively is similar to what we used to do with Jurgen. It depends on the other team a lot too, we change the pressing based on the other team.
But I think the main thing is in possession when we are more patient, we have different patterns and more movements to understand where the spaces are and try to exploit them.”I still think we are getting into the idea.
The main difference is the tactical side. I think it is about finding the free man or the space and try to attack it and be more patient when you have the ball.
Does it suit me? For sure. It is a different position. Last season I played as a 6 and now it is a double 6 or even an 8 or a 10, whatever you want to call it.
