Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised the work done in Bournemouth by Richard Hughes before the sporting director left the South Coast Club for Mersseyside during the summer.
Hughes made more than 100 Premier League Portsmouth appearances before completing his game career off the high flight with Bournemouth. Former Atalanta and Arsenal The Academy midfielder spent a decade as the technical director of cherries, overseeing an unprecedented run of five consecutive seasons at the top of the England football pyramid.
While the managerial figure of Eddie Howe's talismanic manager left Bournemouth in 2020, Hughes remained, eventually naming Andoni Iraola in 2023 before he agreed to become Liverpool's sports director last summer.
“Richard left that club in a very, very good place,” said Slot, who reached Merseyside at the same time with Hughes, said before Liverpool traveled to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
“It is not surprising that they are able to compete with every single team in the league,” Slot continued. “They have a lot of qualities, created by Richard. He hired a fantastic manager. Justin (KLUIVERT) is one of the many examples where Richard deserves a lot of credit. You need quality and that is what Richard brought there.”
Despite his connection to cherries, Slot was not relying on Hughes's internal recognition for the club. “He tells us what we're seeing already,” the Dutch coach knocked. “It's not that important if he tells me things I don't know if a player is married and has children, it won't affect the game tomorrow. But he definitely sees the things we're seeing because of the style of Their game and manager is the same thing that I see it confirms is true. “
Bournemouth They have not been beaten in any competition since November and have already claimed some apparent sculptures in their stadium vitality home this season. “Onhe one of the most difficult games,” Slot warned. “They have already shown by Arsenal beat there and beating the city there. They lost to Chelsea but lost a penalty and have received only seven goals at home.
“The second half (of Liverpool's 3-0 win On Bournemouth in September) we played against them showed me that they are a serious team. If you are 3-0 down and you can continue to compete and work so hard on the second part that tells you a lot about the team's mentality. “
Despite being lost in Anfield, Bournemouth gathered 19 strokes, 12 of which were from inside the box – no other team has been better even at any meeting with Liverpool This season.