Arne Slot pulled a “shock” on Bayer Leverkusen in fielding Luis Diaz as his No. 9 within the Champions League on Tuesday – even when his rival coach doesn’t agree.
Diaz was deployed up entrance for the primary time beneath Slot as Liverpool hosted Leverkusen, and got here away together with his first-ever hat-trick in a 4-0 win.
The Colombian was maybe the unlikely selection when wanting on the teamsheet given Cody Gakpo additionally began, however Slot’s rationalization was clear.
Chatting with journalists in his post-match press convention, the Dutchman outlined why Diaz began as No. 9.
“A number of issues,” he started.
“I solely have 4 attackers accessible in the intervening time, with the accidents of Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa.
“And Darwin didn’t play that a lot to start with, then he began to play a bit extra, however with this fixture record it’s virtually unattainable to play all of them, particularly whenever you haven’t performed that many video games earlier than.
“In order that, together with the truth that I feel [Jonathan] Tah is among the finest defenders in Germany – perhaps the perfect defender in Germany – and he likes perhaps to play extra in opposition to a goal man, somebody who’s there within the center.
“We selected to play Lucho extra from the left or the midfield and perhaps shock him afterwards with runs in behind – not solely him, however normally.
“If you happen to have a look at the primary aim, that paid off. What a cross from Curtis Jones!”
Requested if he was prone to used Diaz as a striker once more, Slot replied: “If we have now extra accidents like we have now in the intervening time then this might occur, sure.
“However that additionally relies on who’s accessible and the way the opposite workforce strains up, what the formation is.
“However final season I feel if each of them play, then it was extra Cody who performed as a 9 and Lucho as a No. 11.
“That’s additionally a risk, however then we perhaps had this peak from Cody in opposition to Tah as an alternative of somebody who’s a bit extra versatile and drops into the midfield.”
Whereas Slot used Diaz up entrance as a way to “shock” Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso stopped in need of utilizing that phrase when he mentioned the tactical ploy.
“We had been prepared that they could change one thing, due to the scenario with 9 factors, having the Premier League, being in an excellent place,” he advised reporters.
“We had been prepared for them to alter one thing.
“I didn’t know if Gakpo was going to be up entrance and Luis on the left after I noticed the lineup, the opposite issues, Tsimikas or Robertson, Curtis Jones or Szoboszlai.
“So no large shock, as a result of they’ll try this.
“The targets weren’t as a result of we weren’t ready for that, it was due to the standard that they’ve and later as a result of we had been going full fuel to attempt to rating one aim to alter the mindset.
“Possibly with 2-1 one thing adjustments, and after it’s 3-0, 4-0, it’s onerous, the outcome for me.”
