Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has discussed why he was so critical of Darwin Nunez following his missed chance against Aston Villa last week ahead of the Reds’ clash with Newcastle
Arne Slot has revealed why he criticised Darwin Nunez last week.
The Liverpool boss questioned the Reds striker’s attitude following his performance after he missed a glorious chance in their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. Nunez had an open goal after a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai but he missed the target as the Reds dropped two points.
Slot is usually reserved in his dealings with the media but his words were strong on the misfiring Uruguayan forward and it is was because it was for the second time the player’s work rate had dropped. He was not angry about the missed chance but his reaction afterwards.
The Dutch head coach said: “First of all, I helped him by saying you can miss a chance. I wasn’t only hard on him. But for the second time in a row I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.
“I always try to be honest with my players and be honest as I can to you guys as well where I always try to protect my players so I don’t say he never worked hard. I know him differently.
“I know him at Villa at home where he made a 100 metre sprint and scored a goal, I know him when he came on at City at home and was pressing really aggressively and wins the ball back and we score.
“But I can’t accept if a player doesn’t give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once but twice was a bit too much. That’s why I addressed it.
“Not that I’m all of a sudden very angry with him. I don’t mind that he missed a chance, I’d have loved him to score it, and I know he will eventually score. But if you miss a chance, you need to be fighting for the team. I’m not saying he didn’t do that at all, but it wasn’t the usual Darwin, the one that is loved by the fans. That is mainly because he always works so hard.”
Slot discussed the matter with Nunez and revealed the forward is still reeling over the missed chance to add to his goalscoring tally but his work rate has improved dramatically.
He added: “He was still down about it. As much as I want the number nine to be seen as working hard and do whatever is needed for the team, a normal number nine is focused on goals. I can keep talking to him about work-rate, work-rate, work-rate, but he and any number nine will always be disappointed if he misses a chance. He was still a bit disappointed the day after.
“But yesterday he was incredible in the training session when it comes to work-rate. Hopefully he can keep doing this, and whenever the team needs him then he is ready for it if he keeps putting in sessions like he did yesterday.”
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