Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister reveals how Arne Slot stepped up during personal difficulties

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Arne Slot led Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season at the help but Alexis Mac Allister has also spoken about the part played by the Dutch manager off the pitch
Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister was brought to Anfield in Jurgen Klopp's final season before winning the Premier League in the first campaign under Arne Slot. The Argentina international has spoken about the difference between the two bosses, while also opening up on how Slot helped him through a particularly difficult spell away from the pitch.
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Mac Allister was a regular for the Reds last term, starting 30 of their 38 Premier League matches. It was a dream first season for new boss Slot, and the Argentina international has spoken about the other ways the former Feyenoord manager helped in ways some might not have seen.
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"I don't want to go into details, but I was going through some very personal difficulties last season," Mac Allister told The Players' Tribune. "I told one person what I was going through, and it ended up reaching Arne.
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"He called me into his office one day. You never know how something like that is going to go in football. But Arne was amazing about everything. He let me get everything off my chest, and after that, I felt like I could breathe a bit easier.
"And my teammates, they were incredible. They kept me smiling through difficult times. Especially our little South American crew: Lucho [Diaz]. Alisson. Darwin [Nunez]. Even Mr. Taffarel (former goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel). What a legend! He's almost 60, and there's no one funnier than him."
Mac Allister played under Roberto De Zerbi in his final season at previous club Brighton, and also spoke about the similarities between the Italian and Slot. "What can I say? I like to speak to my managers on the training ground and understand what they want from me. It was the same with De Zerbi and now it's the same with Arne. I have four or five dads, I guess!" he said.
"When Arne came in, it was a huge change for us, because his style is a bit different. It's less rock and roll and more possession, but it worked out so well for us. But his support off the pitch was even more important for me."
Liverpool begin their 2025-26 campaign against Bournemouth on Friday. They did the double over Andoni Iraola's side last term, with Mac Allister involved in both games, and have signed Milos Kerkez from the Cherries this summer.
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Three of the so-called South American crew have departed this summer. Diaz has joined Bayern Munich, Nunez has left Anfield for Al Hilal, and coach Taffarel has made way for the returning Xavi Valero.
There have also been plenty of new additions, though, with Giovanni Leoni the latest to arrive. The Italian centre-back's move from Parma was confirmed on Friday, just hours before the league opener.