Arne Slot has delivered an emotional update after Liverpool’s midweek victory over Southampton was overshadowed by a cruel blow for one of the club’s brightest young defenders.
The Reds’ 2-1 Carabao Cup win at Anfield should have been remembered for the performance of 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, who impressed on debut.
Instead, the night ended with worry and heartbreak as the Italian was forced off after landing awkwardly in the second half.
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Slot confirms long-term absence
Speaking to reporters at the AXA Training Centre, Slot confirmed the worst fears regarding Leoni’s condition.
“He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year,” the Liverpool boss admitted.
“Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.”
The Dutchman pointed out that youth offers Leoni one form of encouragement.
“There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at one. He is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”
Slot also stressed the importance of Leoni being surrounded by teammates who have already endured similar battles.
“We have some examples of that with Virgil [van Dijk] and Joe [Gomez], and there are a lot of examples all around the world,” he said.
“they can give you the right energy maybe in certain moments.”
The Liverpool boss added that the club’s medical staff will be crucial in guiding the teenager back to full fitness.
“I think the main and most important thing is the surgeons that are going to do the surgery, then second of all the ones that do the recovery, the rehab, with him.
“But then it’s always nice if you can do this in a surrounding with players who have lived through this as well.”
Slot closed his update by praising the squad’s reaction to the defender’s misfortune.
“I think our players already showed in the last two days a lot of compassion towards him and they will not stop doing that in the upcoming year,” he noted.
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