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Arne Slott explained why he will rarely enter the players’ dressing room at the AXA Training Centre, as he made his way around Liverpool’s training ground.
Slott has officially moved into his office at AXA and will begin working with his players in early July, when the preseason begins.
Before that, however, the new head coach will be busy planning his first major campaign, working closely with his coaching staff and sporting director Richard Hughes.
Hughes’ appointment was designed to take the load off Slott, who was deliberately hired as a head coach rather than a manager, with his primary focus on the pitch.
But the Dutchman is also eager to give the players space, he told the club’s media team during a walk around the AXA Training Centre.
“I’m here, you wouldn’t see it that much,” Slott explained as he entered the locker room.
“Maybe it’s not too much at all, maybe calling someone and saying ‘can you reach me’.
“But after the session they should talk about us, me, here, with all the freedom they have, instead of being afraid of me walking around all the time.”
That separation will be nothing new for the players, as Jurgen Klopp has taken a similar approach, trusting his leadership group to fulfill their roles off the training pitch.
Most recently these have included captain Virgil van Dijk, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and senior figures Andy Robertson, Alisson and Mohamed Salah.
It’s likely to remain that way after Slott’s arrival, with the 45-year-old looking forward to getting to know his team as much as the people as well as the players.
“(I’m) really excited, of course,” he said.
“I think it’s always nice to work with players, with people, that, I would say, is the nicest thing in your job.
“So, not only with the players, but also with the staff.
“I think it keeps you young and gives you energy – apart from the games, which of course are also really special.”
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