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Hello,

Yesterday on a Dutch football talk show (Rondo), Wytse van der Goot, Wesley Sneijder, Khalid Boulahrouz, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten discussed the situation at Liverpool and around Slot. The story that was then shared by Khalid Boulahrouz I found quite powerful. The actual segment is on YouTube under the title "Liverpool moet in deze situatie met een statement achter Slot gaan staan," but because it is in Dutch I took the time to translate the conversation. I hope it doesn't get removed because it took a while to write it all out, and on the other hand I hope that more football fans will better understand this (still underexposed) side of the story, and perhaps show more understanding for the results so far and in the coming period.

WG (Wytse van der Groot): There's been something very big, almost intangible, hanging over Liverpool for the past five months, and that is the passing of Diogo Jota. Slot has also said… he almost never brings it up himself, but when he's asked about it, he is willing to talk. "If I had the answers to the problems, I would have acted on them, but maybe there are things at play here that we simply can't control."

WG: You (KB) experienced something similar in 2007 at Sevilla when Antonio Puerta suffered a heart attack during a match and passed away a few days later. So you've seen up close what such a traumatic event does to a team. You've talked about this with Joost Blauw from VI, but could you once again explain how this affected you in the dressing room, as a team, and for how long?

KB (Khalid Boulahrouz): Yes… there's no script for a situation like that, just like Slot said. At Sevilla, the moment it happened, football stopped being important for everyone. Everyone is devastated, it hits like a bomb. At that moment, you have the mourning process, the funeral, the church service, etc. But the moment the doors close to the public… that's when the real grieving process begins for a team. There is no timeline for that, there is no handbook for itnot even for a coach. How do you process grief with the boys? One player is more reserved, another more emotional… how do you deal with that? One person can put it aside more quickly, and it also has to do with new players. I had just arrived at Sevilla, for example. My bond with him was less strong than that of players who had spent years with him. They need far more time to process things. And you notice that. You come to the club, guys gather together… sharing memories. Those thoughts stay with you day after day. That is a completely different preparation than when nothing is weighing on you and you're performing at the top level.

WG: Considering your own experience and what you lived through that season… every situation is different, of course, and it's incredibly delicate… but can you imagine that what Liverpool has been going through these past weeks and months is simply a consequence of what they've experienced? That it plays a major role?

KB: I can definitely imagine that. I read that Salah was a very close friend of his, and that their wives and children spent time together. That kind of loss… you feel that. And when I look at his playthere's nothing left. He can't do anything right, he can't get past a defender, he's missing chances. He's not the player we saw last season. I can absolutely imagine how deeply this hits. For some it's heavier than for others, but as a coach you have to deal with all of that.

WG: And then you also have new players who maybe don't know how to behave in a group that's grieving?

KB: Exactly, that's it. You come in as a new player and you don't want to be too… maybe not the right word… exuberant too early. You hold back. You look around. People are quieter. It wouldn't surprise me if some players feel guilty. Take Robertson's comment after they qualifiedamazing momentbut he said, "I would've wanted to celebrate this with him."

WG: Let's take a look at those images.

(They watch the video of an emotional Robertson after Scotland's World Cup qualification.)

WG: Yes, beautiful words, but it also shows how fresh it still is.

KB: Yes, for outsiders you see the news online for 1, 2, 3 days and then your life goes on. But for them, the moment they return to their own silence, so to speakthat's when it really begins. It's months later and he's still emotional. They miss him. They miss him enormously. And you're constantly reminded of it: you arrive at the stadium, you play against Real Madrid. Real Madrid laid a wreath the day before. PSV… you enter the dressing room… maybe his shirt is still hanging there, maybe his place is still kept free. You're constantly reminded. It just takes time before it… I don't mean this negatively… but before it fades a little.

RG (Ruud Gullit): Could someone explain what you're explaining now on behalf of Liverpool? Because right now, what I'm seeing is… there's no sympathy for Liverpool.

KB: Yes, and that's what made me a bit angry. When you see the headlinescrisis meeting, Slot should be fired. Last year he won them the title and was fantastic… and then something like this happens, something enormous, with massive impact. And now suddenly the coach can't do anything anymore? The chairman or owner should have said: we're all in the same boat, everyone processes this in their own way, some need more time than othersbut we will take that time. This is hugely important for the players' wellbeing.

RG: I think… what KB says makes sense. It gives people a clearer picture of what's happening there. He lived through it himself, he can explain it well. It would be good if someone at Liverpool could explain it like that. Because I know the rules of football… if things continue like this, Slot's job will eventually be at riskunless you address this.

WG: Should you have to explain it, or should we all just be able to understand it?

RG: No, because we don't understand it. Like KB said, after three days we've all forgotten.

MB (Marco van Basten): If he explains it, you understand… but experiencing it yourself is something else entirely. But it's good that you shared ityou lived through it. And these are long-term, complex processes.

KB: I also think this is important for the owner. You can fire a coach. Finefire Slot and bring in someone else. Someone who has zero understanding of the process happening in that dressing room… he doesn't know those players. Does he have a certificate for how to guide a group through grief? That doesn't exist. The owner should show leadershipfor the image towards the fans as well, because they're also furious after the matches. And you see the ups and downsagainst Real Madrid they played brilliantly. Peaks and valleys… you slowly grow back towards your old level. But that takes time, and you need to give Slot that time as well.

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