Arne Slot has admitted that Liverpool did everything to convince Trent Alexander-Arnold to sign a new contract in the club.
While the Reds managed to bind Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to fresh terms, right-back Alexander-Arnold has decided to go away from the club free of charge this summer.
Alexander-Arnold’s decision, in particular, triggered significant frustration at Liverpool fans and the slot opened its own feelings of disappointment.
“Trent is not the first and will not be the last one who leaves a special club,” he said. “We did everything to keep it, and then we have to accept his decision.
“You may understand that he wants a new challenge, because if he is in the same league for so many years, some players want to experience something else.
“It is a disappointment for fans, teammates and for me [that] He goes. We will miss a very good person and a very, very, very good full -back. “
Questions were asked about the reception, which Alexander-Arnold is granted via Liverpool’s last three games of the season, starting with a visit to Arsenal on Sunday. Slot admitted that there are probably some tensions, but asked the supporters to keep themselves behind the team as a whole.
“The fact that people have an opinion about us when it is Trent or me or someone else is not new to anyone,” the boss continued. “It is probably a little more for him now than he is used to and probably a little more negative, but I don’t follow all of this. I am not here to tell the fans how to react.
“We are all disappointed, but Trent is the first one of which he said, he would prefer us as a team and not be distracted by this announcement.
“I have worked in clubs like AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, where a very good player or more very good players leave the club every season so that I can get used to it a little more. But the experience that I have – and by the way – this club – is when a very good player rises the next very good player and that now probably happens now.”
The gap, which was left behind by Alexander-Arnold’s exit, is the graduate of the academy, Conor Bradley, who begins the meeting on Sunday with Arsenal to prepare it for a larger role in the next season.
Slot added: “You will not be surprised when I say that everyone will get a program in summer. We want to keep them fit, but they also have to enjoy a few days. Conor has such an intensive style. [Achraf] Hakimi at PSG. He is also everywhere during the game.
“But Hakimi is 26. He is much more used to it every week. He needs time, conor and a good program to keep him fit.
“To become a very good player, you have to be available every week, and this is the first step he has to take next season. But we have confidence in Conor as a very good full -back for Liverpool and that has already been shown.
“Conor will start [against Arsenal]. He takes time for games to get a few games under the belt and better prepare for the next season. “