John Achterberg has revealed the ‘smart decision’ the club made that he feels played a major part in Alisson remaining at the club.
Earlier this summer, Alisson Becker had become the latest target for several ambitious Saudi Arabian clubs.
The Brazilian international, who has been a pivotal figure at Anfield, is a key leader and player in this Liverpool squad.
There it would be unthinkable for the Anfield fans especially, as it would mean one less world-class player in the team.
Thankfully, the interest from Al-Ittihad and co. seems to have died down, with the 31-year-old set to remain at the club and help in usher in the Arne Slot.
Of course, Alisson’s goalkeeping department will look a lot different when returns to the AXA.
Alongside Achterberg, who was announced as a coach for Steven Gerrard, assistant goalkeeping coach Jack Robinson also departed the club.
Arne Slot has opted to appoint Fabian Otte as a replacement, with the German already showcasing his slightly eccentric ways of training.
But John Achterberg believes that one decision to keep a certain staff member may have paid off tenfold.
the Dutchman discussed how Alisson felt about the goalkeeping department being uprooted:
Achterberg
“Ali wanted me to stay, he wanted to keep the whole department,”
“The first day it (news of Klopp leaving in January) went out was a shock for everyone, and Ali said ‘yeah John, but I don’t want to change anything, I want to keep everything’.”
“I said ‘I understand’ but when this happened, my contract is finished at the end of the season and I don’t want to gamble on it, if you like, and hope and see what would happen.”
“In the end, it was the right thing as well, because obviously Liverpool wanted to change the whole department basically.”
“They were smart to at least keep Taffarel, because if they would also change Taffarel, they probably would have told Ali to find a new club basically.
“You have to be smart as well.”
“It’s good because Taffa’s a really good guy and it’s perfect that he’s there for them.”
The 31-year-old is known to have a good relationship with goalkeeper coach Claudio Taffarel.
Comments