Arne Slot would no doubt have been watching on with interest as his former side piled yet more misery on Manchester City on Tuesday, with a familiar face in the thick of the action.
Pep Guardiola’s side looked to be on course for their first win in six games as they led Feyenoord 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium, thanks to goals from Erling Haaland and Ilkay Gundogan. The Rotterdam side though came storming back in the final 15 minutes, with Anis Hadj-Moussa and Santiago Gimenez giving them hope of a remarkable comeback.
That was completed with just a minute of normal time remaining as David Hancko headed home, leaving Guardiola to despair on the sidelines as his side’s slump continues ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League showdown with Liverpool.
Slot will no doubt have enjoyed the sight of City crumbling ahead of that game against Anfield, and seeing one of his former favorites completing the job will no doubt have made the result all the sweeter for him.
Hancko is a name that will no doubt be familiar to Liverpool fans. The Slovakia international was linked with a move to Merseyside following Slot’s appointment, and he hasn’t been shy of addressing the speculation.
A self-confessed Liverpool fan, Hancko has hinted at wanting a move to the Premier League in the past, and he was hotly tipped to follow Slot to Anfield during the summer.
Despite impressing at Euro 2024, the 26-year-old admitted a transfer to Liverpool is unlikely – although he did pay his former boss a glowing review, which will not have gone unnoticed at Anfield.
“I think that in three years he will be among the best coaches in the world,” Hancko told Dutch outlet Voetbal International (via The Standard). “I can see that happening, because I know what he did with us and now he has the biggest platform to show that.
“I have a lot of confidence in him and his staff, and I don’t say that because I hope to go with him to Liverpool, because that is unlikely.
“I have spoken to him a few times since the end of the season, but I don’t think they are looking for a player in my position, so I don’t think a transfer to Liverpool will happen.
“But I wish him the best of luck, he really is a fantastic coach.”
Liverpool.com says: Even without those links to the Reds, Liverpool fans will no doubt have loved seeing Hancko grab that equalizer against City – especially with that huge game just around the corner. That will no doubt have caused his stock to rise if he ever gets linked again with a move to Merseyside, so he can guarantee himself a good reception if he does arrive at Anfield in the future.
