Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has hit back at those criticising his team for making zero additions this summer – and says it is a myth that signing new players guarantees the squad will become stronger.
The Reds are the only club in Europe’s top five leagues yet to make a signing this transfer window and the club, including new sporting director Richard Hughes, have come under scrutiny from fans.
Frustration was heightened on Monday when top target Martin Zubimendi, the Spanish defensive midfielder who excelled in the European Championship final, went back on his word and opted to decline Liverpool’s offer. He remained at boyhood club Real Sociedad.
But Slot said: ‘I've said many times already, our squad is really strong – and it's not easy to find players who can help us or strengthen the squad. Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he decided not to come. We go forward with the ones we have. We are in a good place.
‘In the background Richard is trying to strengthen the squad as he can. Unfortunately Zubimendi decided not to come. (We) did every effort and tried everything to bring him in but if a player doesn't want to come, it's obvious he's not coming.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has hit back at those criticising his team for making zero additions this summer
‘At this moment the whole team has stayed together. We lost Joel Matip, Thiago and Adrian, but the rest of the team stayed together and that's a very positive thing. We are always talking here about transfers but it's positive that we have kept our players.
‘We are in a good place at the moment – Jurgen (Klopp) left the team in a good place and we are trying to build from there. Last season they won a trophy with this team – we are aiming for the same this season.’
Slot was asked if Liverpool are weaker this season after making no additions and replied: ‘That argument I don't understand. If you don't strengthen the team you become weaker? That's a bit weird.
‘Normally you would either stay the same or I truly believe on the training ground you can help players and teams to improve. That's what happened here in recent years. The training ground really helped the team improve.
‘Maybe what you mean is that if the clubs around you do strengthen their team then maybe they become better, but it's not always true that if you bring in new players the team becomes stronger.
‘I also believe in general that every player in the team needs to have perspective on playing time, and if you keep bringing players in then sometimes the energy in the group goes down as well.
‘We, and I mean Richard and me, are trying to strengthen the squad. And if we think we have found someone we try to bring them in. Unfortunately the one we thought could help us said no. In the background Richard is trying to improve the team but my main focus now is on Ipswich.’
Liverpool travel to newly-promoted Ipswich for a tricky test at Portman Road but go there with a full bill of health – which was a rarity last season. Several players are not fully fit after short pre-seasons and Slot has some big calls to make when picking his XI.
One player that will be sticking around, according to Slot, is Luis Diaz, who has been consistently linked to Barcelona this summer in the Spanish press. The head coach added: ‘His (Diaz’s) future is with us.
‘I like a lot of what I've seen in the last 10 days he's been in and I saw the same last season. He's had a big impact on Liverpool seasons and I am hoping he has a big impact on the upcoming season as well.’