Ekitic: Slott told me to stop stripping and celebrating. Isaac and I can coexist.

November 9th: Liverpool forward Ekitic was interviewed recently and talked about topics such as Slott and Isaac.

Asked whether Arne Slott would be a tough coach, Hugo Ekitic laughed and gave a knowing glance to his club colleagues.

His eyebrows were raised almost to the ceiling, and at first Ekitic seemed to be considering an appropriate response. But then his answers were as direct as his dribbling into the paint, especially when asked to give an example of Slaughter's most crucial coaching.

"Of course he told me not to take off my shirt again! " he replied with a smile, referring to the silly red card he received in this season's Carabao Cup for stripping off to celebrate after scoring a goal.

He went on to talk about the coach's continued push for him to maintain high standards: "As a player, sometimes you get annoyed, and it's annoying. But I know he's doing it for my own good and the good of the team. You can say that he's always pushing me, but that's not a bad thing. . He just wants to help me, so I don't get it wrong. He wants me to keep improving. Sometimes when the coach pushes you a little bit, you want to complain a little bit, but that's a good thing - if the coach doesn't like you. He doesn't pay attention to you at all. When I look back on our conversations, I find that they are all constructive and about improving my work efficiency. Most of the time it is about pushing me to be more involved and contribute more to the team. We will get there. Thierry Henry once rated his move to Liverpool as the most exciting signing in 2025. Ekitic said frankly: "This is an honor. He is the idol of our French players. I know that he has created a legend in the Premier League, so I cherish this praise very much. But I don't want to just make sensational signings, but also want to be a strong player with outstanding performance."

It is a pity that when the Arsenal legend coached the French U21, Ekitic did not get the opportunity to learn from him. "He didn't choose me then! " he complained with a smile.

While the standard-bearer Alexander Isaac is still adapting to Anfield, Ekitic has become the core of Slott's offensive system. He believes that over time, he and Isaac will form a complementary rather than competitive relationship.

He said firmly: "We can definitely coexist, although we have only been together for half the game so far and still need to get used to each other. But he is an excellent player, and I never worry about working with excellent players - as time goes by, we will gradually establish a tacit understanding."

"I firmly believe that not only Isaac, but all forward teammates can form a cooperation. Of course, it is impossible for all members to appear on the field at the same time, but I can partner with any striker and enjoy the fun of playing exciting games."