Arne Slot has confirmed he offered incoming Reds goalkeeping coach Fabian Otte an extended break following the Copa America, only for the latter to cut his holiday short instead.
Otte had been working at the USMNT’s goalkeeping coach during their disastrous Copa America campaign that saw them dumped out in the group stages. While the USA got their tournament off to a good start with a 2-0 win over Bolivia, an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Panama, coupled with a loss to Uruguay, saw them exit the competition they were hosting.
And following the poor campaign, Gregg Berhalter was sacked. Otte, who has previously worked for Borussia Monchengladbach, had been granted extra-time off by Slot before taking up the role of Liverpool’s head of first team goalkeeper coaching.
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However, a week into that break, the 33-year-old coach has instead opted to cut his holidays short, arriving on Merseyside to report for pre-season training at the AXA Training Centre.
“Fabian was with the USA team, unfortunately for him they went out of the tournament,” explained Slot. “I gave him a few weeks off but he said he wanted to come straight away.
“He is already here now after one week’s holiday and that is what you like to see – although having a holiday is also important! You want to see players and staff come in early and help us to have a good season.”
What do you make of Otte’s decision? Let us know in the comments section below.
Otte’s selfless decision seems to bode well with the standards Slot will want his coaching staff to implement at Liverpool. The Dutchman’s arrival at Anfield is a massive change for the club following the end of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure.
Additionally, with long-serving goalkeeper coach John Achterberg having left Liverpool to join Al-Ettifaq, the early return from his holiday for Otte will likely stand him in good stead too to get familiar with the players he will be coaching for the foreseeable future.