'I played for Arne Slot at Feyenoord – he'd show us clips of Liverpool all the time' – The Mirror

Exclusive: Former Feyenoord star Cole Bassett has revealed what it was like playing under Arne Slot and how the Dutchman has admired Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp for a long time
Arne Slot admired Liverpool so much that he would show clips of Jurgen Klopp’s side to his Feyenoord squad.
That is according to one of his former players, who claims the Dutchman used the Reds as an example of what it takes to play at the highest level. Slot officially took over as Liverpool’s new head coach earlier this week and has the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of the club's greatest manager of the modern era.
Klopp famously ended the club’s 30-year wait for a top-division title and returned them to Europe’s elite. Not only that, but he also reinvigorated their style of play, making Liverpool one of the most attractive sides to watch.
Fans fearing about life after Klopp need not worry – because it seems his successor is intent on carrying on his legacy. Colorado Rapids star Cole Bassett, who played under Slot at Feyenoord, has revealed how the new Anfield boss would often show clips of Liverpool in preparation for matches.
“He [Slot] introduced quite a few things to me and made me understand football a lot better,” Bassett said in an exclusive interview with Mirror Sport. “I’ve seen little things his teams have done, and I know what it takes to play at a top level. The funny thing is, he used to show us clips of Liverpool all the time.
“Liverpool were the one team he used to emphasise to us that if we wanted to play at the top level, then this is what you had to do. And now he’s ended up there, so I think it’s pretty special for him.”
Slot had been linked to a number of high-profile jobs in the Premier League prior to joining Liverpool. He was on Tottenham’s shortlist before they opted for Ange Postecoglou, while he publicly turned down Leeds before their relegation to the Championship.
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Given his obvious admiration for Liverpool, it is perhaps no real shock that the feeling was mutual. “I wasn’t surprised he’s ended up at a big club like Liverpool,” Bassett continues. “I never knew whether Liverpool was his team or anything but it’s funny looking back at it now.
“He would show clips of Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz sprinting back defensively, and he’d be like ‘if you want to be at a top club, this is what you have to do.’
“It’s not like we didn’t have wingers who weren’t top players. We had Reiss Nelson and Luis Sinisterra, who are both now in the Premier League, but he was like ‘if you want to be at this level, watch what they’re doing, and this is what I expect of you.’
“Maybe Liverpool was one of the teams he aspired to be at, but it’s pretty funny he’s ended up there after showing us so many clips of them.”
Slot’s hesitation in moving to the Premier League has been Liverpool’s gain, even if he now has the unenviable task of following on from the club’s greatest manager in modern history.
“I thought he was going to go to Spurs last year,” Bassett admits. “But I’m glad he maybe waited it out a bit, and now he’s got an even bigger club per se with his move. It’s tough that he’s coming in after what Klopp he did there, but I’m curious to see how he does. I think he’ll do really well. But we’ll see how that goes.”
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