Liverpool Star Speaks Out About Harsh Substitution And Arne Slot's 'Kick Up Backside'.
Liverpool's promising talent, Jarell Quansah, has opened up about being substituted at half-time during their 2-0 win over Ipswich Town by new manager Arne Slot. The 21-year-old, eager to establish himself as one of Europe’s top young defenders, acknowledges that Slot’s decision to take him off after just 45 minutes in Ipswich's first match since their promotion was justified, despite the harshness of the experience.
Although Quansah was selected to showcase his abilities on August 17, his time on the field was cut short because Slot felt he struggled too much against forward Liam Delap. Since then, the Warrington-born center-back has been sidelined, with Liverpool winning all three of their Premier League matches under Slot. However, Quansah remains unperturbed by his current absence from the pitch.
Following his man-of-the-match performance for the England Under-21 team in their draw with Northern Ireland, Quansah provided honest reflections on the critical moment he was pulled from Liverpool's lineup. In an interview with The Times, he said, "It's a long season, and I have the whole season to prove myself," admitting that the substitution was a wake-up call meant to redirect him.
"It's given me a kick up the backside, you could say. I’ll keep working hard in training, and that’s all there is to it. It’s never pleasant to be subbed off at half-time, but ultimately it was the manager's decision, and it was the right one," he told the Liverpool Echo.
Quansah also mentioned that the day after the match, Slot explained his decision-making process and reasoning, which Quansah found fair. He added, "It worked because we won, so I need to focus on myself, improve, and move on to the next game. I’m staying prepared for whenever I get the chance."
He also expressed his long-term aspirations, saying, "Since I was young, my goal has always been to be the best in the world in my position, and I’m working towards that, no matter how long it takes. I won’t be too disheartened if it’s not in 2026 (World Cup); I know what I need to do and hope to keep improving. The more games I play, the more opportunities will come."
