Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised 'very good' Farioli
The Dutchman, who led Liverpool to Premier League victory last season, expressed admiration for Farioli's efforts at Ajax.
Slot praised Farioli for revitalising Ajax's performance, saying he "instilled confidence and vigour" in the team after a disappointing campaign.
Ajax finished fifth in the Eredivisie but surrendered a nine-point lead, allowing PSV to clinch the title.
Despite this, Slot defended Farioli, attributing Ajax's title collapse to PSV's superior attacking force.
Read more: Francesco Farioli 'wants' English job and linked to Serie A amid Rangers talks
Rangers takeover update as manager appointment timeline 'changes'
Slot, who managed Feyenoord before joining Liverpool, said: "You can do very well as a manager, but in the end, you have to have players who make the difference."
He challenged the notion that Farioli favours defensive football, asserting that Ajax played with a "good build-up from the back" and consistently applied pressure on opponents.
He noted that these were elements of Farioli's management style.
Slot said: "Example: from what I've seen, I think Francesco Farioli is a very good manager.
"I've heard that he was only defensive and all that, but when I watched Ajax, I always saw a good build-up from the back, where they could always find a free man and put the opponents under good pressure.
"That's what you influence as a manager.
"Farioli was just unlucky that PSV and Feyenoord had a lot of much, much better strikers than he did."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Reporter
28 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Kathleen McGovern named ScottishPower Women's Premier League Player of the Month for May
Hibernian Women's striker Kathleen McGovern has been named the ScottishPower Women's Premier League Player of the Month for May. After winning the award for the first time in December 2024 and earning it once more in April, this is now McGovern's third Player of the Month award of the 2024/25 campaign. The 22-year-old has had an incredible season for the Hibs, with her 25 goals and two assists in the league crucial to the ScottishPower Women's Premier League title success. This excellent goalscoring form carried into the most important games of the season, as McGovern netted five times in four games during Hibs final run-in. An Edinburgh Derby brace at Oriam to defeat city rivals Hearts was promptly followed up by a vital finish against title challengers Glasgow City at Meadowbank Stadium. A second brace of the month for the number 10 was sealed in the final home match of the season, as Hibs sealed a pivotal 4-2 victory over Celtic leading into the final matchday. While not on the scoresheet against Rangers at Ibrox as the Hibs clinched the league title, McGovern was at hand to provide the all-important assist for Linzi Taylor's title-clinching strike. Six goal contributions across May 2025 – consisting of five goals and the most important assist of the entire campaign – has earned McGovern a first-ever Scotland 'A' Squad call-up. Including Abbie Ferguson and Eilidh Adams' respesctive award wins, Hibernian FC Women players have made up 50% of all winners of the SWPL Player of the Month prize this season after previously going two seasons without a single award. Like this: Like Related
Metro
31 minutes ago
- Metro
Man Utd transfer target told he is making mistake by choosing Chelsea instead
Troy Deeney says Liam Delap is 'missing a step in his development' by opting to join Chelsea over Manchester United. Chelsea have reportedly won the race to make Delap their first piece of business of the summer transfer window, with the 22-year-old Ipswich striker on the cusp a move to Stamford Bridge. According to Fabrizio Romano, Delap has now completed the first part of his medical with the Europa Conference League winners – and the deal is expected to be finalised over the coming days. Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle and Everton had all been credited with an interest in Delap after the forward's eye-catching season in the Premier League, in which he racked up 12 goals and two assists in a struggling Ipswich side. The Red Devils were even favourites to capture Delap at one stage, only to fall behind Chelsea in the running, with the Blues able to offer the young attacker Champions League football next season. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. A relegation release clause in Delap's contract at Portman Road means the England Under-21 international is set to join Chelsea for a fee of just £30million this summer. Reacting to the latest rumours on talkSPORT, ex-Watford striker Deeney argued that a switch to Old Trafford may have made more sense for Delap's development. 'I think, personally, when I just look at his development, I thought Manchester United was a perfect fit,' Deeney said. 'The jump from Under-23s football, he's had a couple of loans and some were okay, some weren't okay. 'But then he goes to Ipswich and has a solid season, I wouldn't say it was exceptional. In the second half of the season he wasn't great. 'The second they got relegated, he didn't play. Whether that's a manager's decision looking forward or whatever… but I think he's got so much more of his game that he still needs to develop. 'Going to Manchester United at this stage of his career, where they are, he would have had to deal with the big experience, being the man to take them to the next level, then he would be ready for Europe. 'I think he's missing a step in his development [by joining Chelsea].' Asked if Chelsea are a level above United, Deeney replied: 'Of course they are. 'Purely from a football point of view, he's going from being in a relegation scrap to now fighting in the Champions League, expecting to win more cups and trying to go and kick on.' Deeney warned Delap over the level of expectation he is likely to face at Chelsea, pointing to the struggles Gonzalo Higuain experienced when taking over the 'heavy' No.9 shirt in west London. More Trending Quizzed on whether Delap could be the man to finish Chelsea's chances and take the club forward, Deeney responded: 'I don't know, yet to be seen. 'I think he's a good finisher, I don't know if he's a great finisher. 'You've had the likes of Higuain come in at Chelsea and it's a different, heavy shirt to wear than doing it at Ipswich. 'I think he can do it. I just think in an ideal world he would have one more step and then he would have gone into the Champions League.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal and Chelsea learn price to sign transfer target from Premier League rivals MORE: Chelsea and Tottenham miss out as Liverpool agree deal to sell Caoimhin Kelleher MORE: Rio Ferdinand says Matheus Cunha signing raises questions over future of Man Utd trio
North Wales Chronicle
31 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
George Russell feels Max Verstappen should have been disqualified at Spanish GP
A processional race at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya – which was won by Oscar Piastri as he extended his championship advantage over second-placed Lando Norris from three points to 10 – came alive on lap 64 of 66 when a furious Verstappen and Russell came to blows. Following a safety-car restart, Verstappen fell off the road as he attempted to defend fourth position from Russell. He rejoined ahead of the Mercedes driver but was advised by his Red Bull team to concede the position. Drama in the closing stages of the race! 😱 Max Verstappen drops to P10 following a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with George Russell #F1 #SpanishGP — Formula 1 (@F1) June 1, 2025 Verstappen slowed down at Turn 5 to allow Russell past, but then accelerated and drove into his rival's Mercedes. 'What the f***'?' Russell said on the radio. Verstappen later moved out of Russell's way, and crossed the line in fifth. However, he was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards – demoting him to 10th – and also punished with three penalty points on his licence which leaves him just one point away from a race ban. In commentary for Sky Sports, Nico Rosberg said Verstappen's sanction was too lenient and that he should have been shown a black flag – an immediate disqualification. And when the 2016 world champion's claim was put to Russell, the Englishman replied: 'If it was truly deliberate then absolutely, because you cannot deliberately crash into another driver. 'We are putting our lives on the line. We are fortunate the cars are as safe as they are these days but we shouldn't take it for granted. A post shared by George Russell (@georgerussell63) 'It felt very deliberate. It is something I have seen numerous times in sim racing and go-karts. I have never seen it in a Formula One race. It felt strange, bizarre and I really don't know what was going through his mind. 'It is a shame because Max is one of the best drivers in the world but manoeuvres like that are totally unnecessary. It lets him down, and it is a shame for all of the young kids looking up to us, aspiring to be Formula One drivers.' Responding to Russell's criticism, Verstappen said: 'Well, I'll bring some tissues next time. 'He has his view, I have my view. It's better not to comment. In life you shouldn't regret too many things. (I have) no regrets.' Verstappen had just lost third place to Charles Leclerc after he opened the door to the Ferrari driver when he made a mistake on the exit of the final corner in a six-lap shootout to the flag following the deployment of a safety car. Russell then attempted to sling his Mercedes underneath Verstappen's Red Bull at the first corner before the Dutchman took to the escape road and remained ahead of the Briton. 'Max, can you let Russell through, please?' said Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. 'What? I was ahead, mate. What the f***! He just ran me off the road.' Explaining their decision to hit Verstappen with a 10-second penalty – which leaves him a distant 49 points adrift of Piastri in the championship – the stewards said: 'From the radio communications, it was clear that the driver of Car 1 (Verstappen) was asked by his team to 'give the position back' to Car 63 (Russell) for what they perceived to be an earlier breach by Car 1 for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage (in fact, we had later determined that we would take no further action in relation to that incident). 'The driver of Car 1 was clearly unhappy with his team's request to give the position back. At the approach to Turn 5, Car 1 significantly reduced its speed thereby appearing to allow Car 63 to overtake. 'However, after Car 63 got ahead of Car 1 at the entry of Turn 5, Car 1 suddenly accelerated and collided with Car 63. The collision was undoubtedly caused by the actions of Car 1.'
