Latest news with #WidzewLodz
Telegraph
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Arne Slot must pick Liverpool off the floor in true test of psychological prowess
Liverpool's manager was suitably unimpressed by the nature of his side's European Cup exit. 'They won't win it. I was surprised at their cry baby attitude, the way they kicked our players,' he said of the opposition Suffice to say, Bob Paisley was less charitable about the attributes of Polish side Widzew Lodz after they celebrated a two-legged quarter-final win at Anfield in March 1983 than his modern incarnation, Arne Slot, when analysing Paris St-Germain's impressive victory over two legs in 2025. There was no danger of Slot echoing those mean-spirited sentiments – one wonders how they would have gone down had the toxic social media been around back then – but there is one aspect of that Paisley campaign he will be looking to mimic. Paisley dusted his team down after European deflation and beat Manchester United in the League Cup final later that month, before adding the league title before the end of April. There is always a pertinent historical Anfield reference for newcomers to consult when realising that while one road to success has been blocked, it does not necessarily mean the trophy parade must be cancelled. For the first time in his reign, Slot must drag chins off the floor. Being a manager is as much about being a psychologist as a coach, so the Dutchman will need to offer his players a suitable tonic before the weekend and title run-in. When he speaks before the Wembley final, Slot will be in new territory given the penalty shoot-out defeat by PSG is the first meaningful setback of his tenure. He is entitled to sound belligerent. The Carabao Cup final is the first of two chances for a silver lining. Defending that competition would be a refreshing aperitif if Slot can re-energise his players to overcome Newcastle United, who should feel more confident having seen Liverpool look so weary in extra-time, especially as Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to feature at Wembley. The prospect of a second Liverpool Premier League title in five years, however, puts everything into perspective. Nobody anticipated Liverpool to be in such a dominant position, nor to have taken their pursuit of three trophies so deep, albeit they have fallen short in Europe against one of the better sides. "I think everybody around the world enjoyed watching this game" 🔥 #UCLonPrime — Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) March 11, 2025 The last time Liverpool lost in the Champions League knockout stage it really was the end of an era. Real Madrid outclassed Jurgen Klopp's side over two legs in February and March 2023, and the coach was speaking about the 'distance' between his side and those at home and in Europe. Liverpool needed to restart and reinvent, the process of signing an entirely new midfield had begun amid a scapegoat hunt around modern legends such as Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, and it looked like the club might be many years from winning major trophies, especially the Premier League, as Manchester City dashed away. Klopp became a builder again and the reconstruction was quicker than expected, ensuring that although the sense of deflation is the same after the defeat by PSG, Liverpool are in a different place and can approach the last few months of this campaign more emboldened, albeit there were plenty of reminders over the course of two round-of-16 legs of further work needed to avoid early elimination in Europe next season. The PSG loss has the potential to be as symbolic for Slot as the Real Madrid defeat in 2023 was for Klopp – the nature of the defeats signposting where the next stage of Liverpool's evolution must be. Slot has already said as much. He may become a Premier League champion despite being far away from creating his vision of what Liverpool can become under him. 'We are a really good team but not a team that every week wins four or five nil and after half an hour is already 3-0 [up],' he said last week. 'We have seen a team doing that in recent years. Liverpool had that, where after half an hour, it was already 3-0. We are not that team yet. It is something we are trying to go to, but therefore it is something we need to improve a lot.' These comments preceded the Paris exit – spoken from a position of strength – and are revealing as to what happens post-season. It has been observed that Liverpool do not blitz the opponent like Klopp's red arrows in their prime. That is a fact, not a criticism. What Slot's side has occasionally lacked in clinically taking the game away from the opponent, they have compensated for in limiting counter-attacks and retaining control. PSG are the only side this season who have made Liverpool look vulnerable with quick-fire transitions, piercing the lines. If they had possessed a lethal centre-forward, the tie would not have made it to penalties. Against potential European-champions, Liverpool lacked firepower, Mohamed Salah's Ballon d'Or dream is over as he could not impose himself on the tie. Salah has been extraordinary this season, but even amid his majestic goal contribution it has been obvious he no longer possesses the turn of pace over the first few yards to trouble a young full-back like Nuno Mendes. In many respects, PSG were a reminder of what Slot needs this summer, their younger, quicker players a prototype for Fenway Sports Group (Liverpool's owners) chief executive Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes, who are yet to make an impactful Anfield signing. Federico Chiesa's unemployment when Liverpool needed more pace in the latter stages against Paris was the most damning statement yet on that piece of business, and there are too many others in Slot's squad who he does not trust enough to make like-for-like replacements, even when his first-teamers like Ryan Gravenberch look like they are emptying the tank. It will need a prolonged energy crisis and monumental collapse in the Premier League for Liverpool to end this season empty-handed, but winning the Carabao Cup looks 50 per cent more challenging than it did at full-time to Newcastle in the Premier League two weeks ago. Liverpool's season was never going to be defined by the outcome against PSG. It will be defined by how they react to it.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Saints receive Kimpioka bid
St Johnstone received a bid for striker Benjamin Kimpioka from Polish club Widzew Lodz on Monday, but the deadline for transfer deals in Poland has now passed. (Courier), externalRead the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FC Köln make opening offer for Imad Rondic
2. Bundesliga side FC Köln have made an offer to sign Bosnian forward Imad Rondic from Widzew Lodz, according to Sky Germany. Hertha Berlin have also entered the race to sign the 25-year-old, who has already reached a verbal agreement with FC Köln. All that remains is that the 2. Bundesliga find an agreement with Lodz. Talks between both clubs are still ongoing and FC Köln have made an official offer in the last 24 hours. The 25-year-old striker – who has scored nine and created two in 18 Ekstraklasa games – is in the final six months of his contract but Lodz have an option to extend the payer's contract by a further year. Despite sitting joint top of the 2. Bundesliga, FC Köln's attack has been somewhat underwhelming this season with just 33 goals after 19 games, prompting the Billy Goats to enter the market for an attacker. Granted, they've had key injuries such as Mark Uth and Luca Waldschmidt, but the addition of Rondic will add a new impetus to their attack. GGFN | Daniel Pinder
