Arne Slot PLAYS DOWN Pep Guardiola's Man City achievements

'Not particularly because of him,' came Arne Slot’s immediate response when asked if the reason he came to the Premier League was to compete against the best managers in the world, Pep Guardiola being foremost of that.

It wasn’t a remark of disrespect or dismissal in any sense. Slot immediately followed up the comment on his Sky Sports ‘One-on-One’ interview with praise for the managerial maverick, saying “but he is one of the best managers in the world - maybe the best manager in the world - so it’s always nice that he stays in England”.

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It is clear that Liverpool’s head coach was saying that external influences, in particular his closest competitors, had nothing to do with his decision to take the Liverpool job at this juncture.

But in the context of the two meeting for the first time on Sunday afternoon, Slot point-blank rejected the notion that Guardiola’s influence is anywhere near people say it is.

Liverpool's Slot could hand Guardiola his biggest defeat ever

Liverpool’s start to the season has been nothing short of mesmerising. They sit eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and a win at Anfield on Sunday could resign City to fifth, which would be their lowest league position since 18th September 2021 - and their lowest this far into the season since the 2020-21 season.

“[It’s] not only good for City - which is not a thing I like! - it’s a good thing for the English league that he’s here, the best players and the best managers should be here and with him that’s definitely true,” Slot continued to answer.

“But they have so many quality players. If he ever makes the decision to leave, then probably City will stay up there and it’s going to be challenging to play them with or without him.”

“But it’s definitely good for the league that he stays. And it’s interesting for me, and all the other coaches, to face him.”

And whether he meant it or not - and he was definitely praising the quality of player that Manchester City have - saying that City would remain good without Pep Guardiola won’t have been taken lightly by the Spanish manager.

Slot didn’t use the interview to play mind games or insult Guardiola. Everything he said was in praise of the ability of this Manchester City side and out of deference to the Liverpool team that Slot is in charge of.

But he managed to do it in a way that drew everything away from the influence that Guardiola is said to have on the sport.

And for a man going through the most serious crisis of his 15+ year managerial career, it might just be enough to throw him even further off his usually perfect game.

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