Slot trusts “experienced” Liverpool are more prepared to face Galatasaray | OneFootball

Arne Slot says he has “all the trust” in his players to take a result back to Anfield ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League round-of-16 clash with Galatasaray in Istanbul.

The Reds are hoping to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered against Cimbom in the group stage of the competition, as Victor Osimhen’s penalty proved the difference between the two sides.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Slot insisted his side will be better prepared for their trip to Rams Park this time around.

“The whistling is so loud when you have the ball. That was new for me and even for all of my experienced players,” he told reporters.

“The good thing is now we play two games, whereas in the group stage you only play away. Now we also have the chance to play in front of our own fans. The fans over here are very impressive, but the good thing is we’ve already experienced it.”

“They have a very good team, and we have a very good team. Are we happy to play against them? No. There’s not one team that you’d prefer to play in the last 16 because they’re all good teams, including Galatasaray. We’ve already lost against them, so that tells you how difficult a game it is for us.”

The trip to Istanbul marks Slot’s 100th game in charge of Liverpool, and victory would break Sir Kenny Dalglish’s record of wins in the first century.

“It makes me really proud that I’ve become the Liverpool manager and that it’s going to be my 100th game,” Slot remarked. “I don’t think I have a bad track record in those 100 games, though sometimes you get a different feeling about that.

“It’s nice that the 100th game is such a big game to play – Champions League last 16, away against Galatasaray. It’s never about the manager; it’s always about the players. I try to prepare them just as well as I did for the 99 games before, but it’s the players who have to perform.

“I’m very lucky that I’ve been given a very good team in both seasons, and I have all the trust that these players will perform to the levels of a Liverpool team.”

Having been edged out when the two sides met earlier this season, Slot is well aware of the dangers posed by the Turkish side.

“We already knew them really well, and after playing them, we know them better. I have a lot of respect for Galatasaray and for their manager, who has been so successful here as a player and now as a manager. He’s won so much,” the Dutchman explained.

“They have quality players who can fight, and they have great fans behind them, so we need to be so good tomorrow to bring a result back to Anfield.”

Galatasaray and Liverpool will face off on tomorrow evening at 5:45pm GMT on TNT Sports.