Arne Slot has explained why he took Rio Ngumoha off against Chelsea after Liverpool fans booed the substitution at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by the visitors after Enzo Fernandez cancelled out Ryan Gravenberch’s early opener. Both Curtis Jones and Cole Palmer had goals ruled out for offside.
Ngumoha impressed on the left wing in his third Premier League start for the club, setting up Gravenberch’s goal in the sixth minute.
The teenager was replaced by Alexander Isak in the second half, a decision that caused consternation and displeasure among the home crowd.
Slot explains Ngumoha decision as Liverpool fans boo sub
Slot revealed after the final whistle that Ngumoha was “having problems with his muscles” and signalled to the bench that he might not be able to keep playing on.
“I don’t think it was some of them [fans booing], I think there were a lot that didn’t agree with that change, which I completely understand if you just look at how he played,” the Dutchman told TNT Sports.
“But it does make sense if you know that three minutes before he goes to the floor, to the ground, he started having problems with his muscles, and then when I asked him, he said, ‘No, not sure if I can continue’.
“The idea was maybe not to take him off, but when he gave the signal that he wasn’t completely ready to continue, then it makes complete sense, but I knew this would have been the reaction because he’s such a popular figure.
“He played a good 65, 70 minutes, 65, something like that. But yeah, as it often is in football, people don’t know everything, and that’s how it works.
“But it is what it is, I’m the manager, I need to make decisions, and sometimes people are happy with them, sometimes they don’t, and today clearly they weren’t. Maybe knowing now why makes it more sense for everyone.”
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