Anfield head coach Arne Slot has criticised commentators who “favour rival sides” for their comments over the club’s off-season spending as he gears up to give a first appearance to Alexander Isak.
A last day purchase of Swedish attacker Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a all-time high price of £125 million pounds took the Reds’ total outlay to £450m on eight signings.
The striker is set to make his debut outing for Slot’s side in their Champions League first match against the Spanish side at home on Wednesday.
In his pre-match news conference, the manager highlighted that the club’s massive spending was balanced by over £250 million earned in sales, having spent just £10m the last transfer window.
“We see so much focus on our summer acquisitions, notably from pundits that favour a few different teams in the league that fail to stop going on about £450 million pounds,” the boss remarked.
“I repeat, £450 million, £450 million pounds! But they ignore about [nearly] £300 million pounds that we have transferred out [players] for. So, of course, if we need to improve the team we need to invest that much money.”
The manager felt Liverpool “completed smart deals”, given all 8 of their acquisitions are at the age of 25 years old or under, and the organization “should get praise” for the plan it has implemented.
“In my view it is just a compliment that people remind everyone we have invested so much because that indicates you the talent we brought in are viewed as top-class players,” explained the coach.
“Certain other clubs opt to bring in experienced professionals because they are match-fit, but we think we have signed players who are young [and] who are ready.
“In my opinion all the money we have spent we made ourselves by transferring out, and by securing the Premier League after we did not buy a single player at all.”
The new signing did not appear in his new team’s narrow win at the Clarets on last weekend – the initial game since he arrived at the Reds – because he is still below par of sharpness.
The forward trained alone at old team Newcastle United, in a attempt to force through his transfer to the Reds, and needs extra work to get up to speed after not participating in pre-season.
Isak's only appearance this campaign came for Sweden in an cameo cameo from the substitutes in a 2-0 defeat by Kosovo last week.
Slot said he is “completely certain” the striker will not play 90 minutes against Atletico Madrid but suggested he will play a role against the La Liga side.
“The striker is included of the team, so it's already a Champions League game to anticipate, but if supporters look forward to his appearance, that could indicate that could happen in the match as well,” the boss added.
“So the moment he is prepared, sharp, [he] can play the full game, and then the next step is playing three times in a week complete games.
“And that is what he has to do; finding the net and doing outstanding things in offense is something he will definitely do. The key obstacle he has is to become so fit that he's first of all ready to do what he did last season.”
