Louis Saha interview: Liverpool have got one hand on the Premier League title

In an exclusive interview with Casino Utan Spelpaus, Manchester United legend, Louis Saha gives his opinion on the Premier League as teams head into the busy winter period.

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Question: Its early days, but is the Premier League title Liverpool’s to lose now?

Louis Saha: ”I think so, yes. You can see that Liverpool have the firepower. They have several players that are capable of scoring goals, and of course, they rely a lot on Mo Salah who is on fire at the moment. 

Arne Slot’s system is very clear for the players to understand, and what they have shown since the start of the season is a revelation, because we all thought that maybe it was going to be a transitional season for Liverpool.

Liverpool have that gap now, even if it’s early in the season, and it’s a big one. I can see teams like Arsenal and Chelsea catching them up and putting them under pressure if Liverpool have a bad patch of games.

It will definitely be more of a disappointment for Liverpool if they do not go all the way from where they are now. They’ve got one hand on the title, for sure.”

Is that it now for Man City? Are City out of the title race? 

Louis Saha: ”I don’t think so. I will say that those guys are still capable of surprising us. They have this big worry – I don’t know where it is coming from. Is it coming from Rodri’s surgery, not being there?

They need to reorganise the midfield. I always felt like their players have the quality to adapt, but it seems like the legs and the experience of Rodri was so pivotal. You can see that Gundogan and Silva can do a job, they are good players, but they can provide only a temporary solution to Rodri’s absence.

When I look at the midfield, this is the position where you want to dominate. If you want to win a championship these days, it’s almost the most important element.

In a game of possession, where you get a few chances, especially against big teams, you need that security. I think Man City are struggling on that. They’re conceding goals and even if they have good defenders, there is something missing, definitely. 

I do think that Man City is still capable of challenging for the title because Pep Guardiola is known to find solutions, but at the moment you can really see that there is absolutely no idea.

They have to do something. At this moment in time, they need something to refresh the team and must look at doing something in January. They need to challenge some players that think, ’I’ve done it for too many years.’

There’s no doubt that this is a challenge, but I don’t think they are far off. It’s hard when you’re missing Rodri. There’s not many Rodris in the world, that’s why he has his Ballon d’Or.

Finding a solution will Pep Guardiola’s mission now.”

Enzo Maresca is refusing to say it, Arne Slot put Chelsea in it, are Chelsea in the title race in your opinion? 

Louis Saha: ”I think you have to say that Chelsea are in the title race. I’m very surprised. I was very critical with the board for signing an enormous amount of quality players and not knowing what to do with half of them; not being able to manage them.

It was a big gamble, but Enzo Maresca has been able to unlock Chelsea’s potential and has managed the squad perfectly. I’m very surprised. He has the youngsters that are on fire, almost unplayable, especially Cole Palmer. Palmer provides the other players with confidence.

I don’t know the man, but Cole Palmer seems to be down to earth and obsessed about his football, which is a really good example for other players. Wherever you’re young or old, when you see someone with quality, still working hard and wanting to improve, that’s a great asset and it becomes a standard that everyone follows.

Chelsea are a bunch of players who are 20 – 25. It’s a very young team but they understand what they have to do, and Palmer has made life easier for the manager because he’s been so good.

You can tell that Enzo Maresca’s communication with his players is good; they have understood and are playing to his instruction. You can clearly see the way he wants them to play.

Chelsea have the right setup at the moment. They have great players in their squad. We will see, but they are in the title race.”

On the top four

Louis Saha: ”Every season you see a team that you expected to be in the middle of the table start really well with a lot of confidence. It’s always the case, and that’s why we love the Premier League.

It is full of surprises. We saw it with Aston Villa last year, they really played well, and this season they haven’t been able to start the same way. It happens.

Brighton has always consistently found the formula that upsets other teams. They manage to produce top performances whether they have big players in or out and they have a defined playing style. 

I really like what Fabian Hürzeler has brought to the team since he joined the club. He’s done very well in a short period of time. You can see that the players are responding really well to his ideas. They’re scoring a lot of goals. They provide a lot of chances.

I’m very pleased that Danny Welbeck is playing really well, that’s brilliant to see. I love that type of footballer, with speed and power. There is a lot of movement, there is a lot of creation.

When I look at a team like Man United, even if they scored four goals against Everton, you can see the level of energy is not there yet and that’s why I think the manager has said that we still need to improve, and that’s basically why those Brighton players are doing so well.

They managed to top up the potential that they have, and they’ve reached their highest level. For a championship this is what you need. You need that intensity from all of the team and that desire to challenge and that is what Brighton are doing. Hopefully they can keep going.”

Could Brighton last the distance and challenge for a place in the Champions League?

Louis Saha: ”I don’t think that Brighton’s push for Champions League football is gonna be sustainable because the big boys will find some form and they will start to find it harder.”

Mo Salah’s contract. Do Liverpool need to give the Egyptian King what he wants or, given his comments about being more out than in, do you think they’ve missed their chance? 

Louis Saha: ”I don’t know if Liverpool do need to give Mo Salah whatever he’s asking for, it’s a difficult question. 

We all know that Mo is a top player, and we haven’t seen a period where Mo Salah has not been banging in goals, we haven’t seen a man who is not obsessed about football. He’s one of those players who can run all day. 

He has been very loyal. He’s in very good position in terms of his negotiations because he’s playing so well. He’s the symbol of the club, and if he doesn’t feel the loyalty back, I can understand why he would not sign a new deal. If he hasn’t been offered a new contract, I get his frustration.

He’ll be thinking, ‘I’m the star and I’ve been there for how many years? I want to see a bit of commitment from the club because I’ve given my all.’ 

Yes, he’s got a good salary, but It’s all about respect. Perhaps he feels like he’s been treated like a bit of an asset and that’s a bit unfair, but that’s the game, that’s the industry we are in. 

Sometimes there are things that are not totally logical. Liverpool are starting a new era, they may be thinking about other options.”

There’s been a bit of a debate about the greatest ever CB’s to play in the Premier League. Some people are putting Virgil van Dijk in there – if you had to name the best pair, who are you putting in there? 

Louis Saha: ”Rio Ferdinand and Vidic are the greatest pairing in Premier League history. It’s very simple. I’m not saying that the other players from this period are not good, but the amount of trouble that they need to solve during the game is a lot less than when I was playing.

Players like Drogba, Emile Heskey, Alan Shearer and even before that. Those guys were always the focal point of the team, they were always the target for crosses. The game has changed, most of the threat comes from the wide areas Salah, Bukayo Saka, those players are the ones who are receiving the most balls.

The threat coming from the wide areas doesn’t come from wingers any more. Crosses mainly come from the wing back. Now, you have a lot of players around you as a centre-back, way more than before. Before you were more exposed.

Rio Ferdinand and Vidic were more exposed. Those guys were capable of maintaining physical dominance, their mentally was amazing and obviously technically they were brilliant. That is the pair of Premier League defenders in history. Without doubt. 

Maybe van Dijk could have adapted to that period. He’s a good, good player. Top of his era, I’m sure. 

I think of the challenge he faces, and the amount of challenges he has to make, he hasn’t been challenged as much as when Rio and Nemanja played. The ability of Vidic and Ferdinand to maintain that level of quality over 10 years, it was just unbelievable.

Every weekend, those two guys were facing very dangerous strikers. Everything was done for the No. 9, but those days are over.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy is back in the dugout with Leicester. You know Ruud well – do you think he’s going into this job with a bit of a point to prove and how do you think he will get on? 

Louis Saha: ”No, no, Ruud has taken on a massive job with Leicester. This guy has proved in a very small spell at United that he is a good coach and don’t forget he was also successful with PSV. He is capable of bringing to life a strategy that makes sense for the players that he’s got. He will adapt.

Leicester is not the team they once were, they really did provide a challenge for any team. At this moment, they look fragile. That’s why they’ve got bad results.

I’m convinced that this guy has the knowledge now and the confidence to actually be a top manager. I’m sure that he will work really, really hard for that. 

You say that it’s about proving a point. He always has his own point to prove for himself, not for anybody else. I think he’s just really looking at this as a huge opportunity to enjoy his coaching, to enjoy his implementation of his philosophy and his ideas. I am more than confident that this guy’s got what he takes.”

Premier League Xmas Crackers

Which team or teams deserve special praise?

Louis Saha: ”I would say that for me, with no doubt, I’m very impressed with Liverpool. It’s painful to say, but yes, the intensity that they put in games, the kind of understanding that they have, there is no better team at this moment in time.

The amount of players that they have that play at such a level, I’m very, very impressed.

I would definitely say Liverpool are the team that have impressed me the most. 

Arsenal is right there, and they are just behind in terms of quality. The football they’ve produced recently is amazing. And while I’m not too impressed with the No. 9 choice, Havertz does really well. 

I am very impressed with the foundation of the team. What is nice to see is that it’s not only about the players, but also a system. It’s a philosophy. It’s an approach and this is great to see.

I respect the foundation of both teams. What you see now when teams play a possession game is a lot of unnecessary passing, boring passing. I don’t like it.

Liverpool and Arsenal, the football they play, the combinations, the speed of their game…it’s pretty much the same. The intensity that they put into their passes is brilliant.”

Who’s the team that you would place on the naughty list. Who needs to try harder? 

Louis Saha: ”It’s a difficult thing to say who would be on Santa’s naughty list because the Premier League is a massive challenge for anybody. 

At the start of the season, Man United, I was so annoyed, because I’m a supporter.
Based on the talent they have in your squad, it was absolutely ridiculous.

I would have said United, but maybe now things have changed in the last six games. Now we can be impressed, something’s coming, but still just potential for now.

Southampton, Wolves and Ipswich are bottom of the league, and no disrespect to them – it’s a tough league. While some of their performances have not been good enough, it would be difficult to pick them out for criticism.

It’s a challenge, but those teams still can manage to get out of relegation. Everton were in trouble but have managed to pick up points until recently. They did not play that bad against Man United, but not that great. And that’s why they conceded four goals.”

Looking at individuals, who would be your overall star player in the Premier League? 

Louis Saha: ”Cole Palmer is the star of the season so far. I’m pleased to see Nicolas Jackson doing well at Chelsea too, because he has been criticised a lot.

At Arsenal, week in, week out, you have tremendous performances from Saka.

Cole Palmer and Salah in terms of contributions is at the top. They’re both unplayable, so I would say Mo Salah and Cole Palmer.”

Manchester United

Do we have lift-off for the Ruben revolution at United now? 

I love Amorim’s communication. I love his honesty. His focus is right. It will help the players. Sometimes a manager is the first one to criticise and try to throw them under the bus. But it seems like the manager is here to protect his players. He’s here to bring them back to a certain type of confidence level that he knows that they need to be at, to perform the way he wants.

So it’s very clever. What he did against Everton is not about the tactics only, it’s about the win that they’re all looking for. He has understood based on the scenario that he has to use certain types of players.

The management of the players has been brilliant. There are guys that need minutes, and he wants to maintain them in the process of getting them back to their best. He needs his players back to his best, and perhaps the only player doing that consistently is Bruno Fernandes. The others are up and down.

Some of these players need some minutes, so he keeps Amad on the field. Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee they got minutes and, Zirkzee got two good goals.

That’s what I’ve seen from the new manager, quality man management. Good communication, confidence, but at the same time, humility.”

Rashford and Zirkzee grabbed a brace each. Do you think Amorim’s system will unlock the goals for United? 

Louis Saha: ”Teams are playing systems where the wing position and the centre midfielders are so important. When you don’t dominate those positions, you’re in trouble.

Your wing backs in the system, where you have three defenders who are really comfortable on the ball, they can really attack because they have a good number of midfielders coming back to help them out.

When I saw Amad against Everton, he managed to give two assists. One I really liked, a simple one where he put the ball between the goalkeeper and the defenders. Not like when wingers come in on the inside to shoot, but to provide a tap-in for the striker. I like this. Amad’s threat is different, his kind of movement is different. 

I was a bit annoyed during the Everton game because I would have loved to see Amad almost as a No. 10 and moving around more freely. I want to see that unpredictability where players, when they accelerate, they provide something. I like it when a player passes to a position and he can tell a player will be there, but nobody else knows. This is the type of thing that we’re missing at this moment in time.

I think Amorim can bring the confidence up for Rashford and Garnacho and Amad by playing a system where the strikers can really enjoy it again. I have not seen United’s strikers enjoying their football for the last two years. Rashford and the other strikers were struggling.”

Thoughts on Zirkzee and how does he build on this? 

Louis Saha: ”Zirkzee is a big lad. He can really provide a focal point at the top, but he’s not an aggressive No. 9. He’ll have to be a nine-and-a-half: lead the line, be aggressive when needed, and try to stretch the lines and the pitch.

On Sunday, in the first half especially, I was frustrated because none of his runs were actually looking for the ball behind Everton’s defence, who played a very high line.
It was always coming from the wingers, so I was very surprised.

The balance that he needs to find in the next few games is to find a way to be consistent in the way that he comes to the ball. That’s why he likes the ball on his feet, but he needs to really ask for the ball. Even if he’s offside for two or three times at the very beginning of  games, it doesn’t matter because its about getting the ball straight to the midfield to players who are great with the ball – Casemiro, Fernandes, Amad. 

Strikers need to get behind the defender’s line. That’s the thing that I was looking for from him. This is where he needs to really open up his game and say, ‘Okay, as a striker I need to be there when the ball is thrown in the box. When we build, I need to get in behind.’ 

If he can do that, I’m sure he’s going to score a lot of goals.”

What do you think is the most exciting thing about Amorim’s appointment? 

Louis Saha: ”The most exciting for thing about Amorim’s appointment is his capacity to understand the players, to have that empathy. I don’t know what he is saying to those guys, but I’ve seen it as well in his substitutions. Some of them may seem illogical because players were missing against Everton that had a really good week. Hojlund scored two goals in the Europa League and was not on the field the next game. Maybe he was already confident, and someone else was not. 

The season is long, so all to bring these players back to confidence, that excites me because I want consistency. I want the intensity to improve. I was frustrated because I think in the first half against Everton, the tempo was not right. It was too slow, a bit comfortable with no urgency. I am not a big fan of that.

We will get exposed when we should be winning four or five nil. That’s basically what I thought. 

That’s why I’m excited that week in week out the manager will improve the confidence. If the intensity of the game can go up, obviously the results still go in the same way.”

One player who is under the spotlight is Marcus Rashford. He is scrutinised for everything he does on and off the pitch – he got two against Everton. Should people just leave him alone and let his football do the talking? Let him play without scrutiny? 

Louis Saha: ”Scoring goals is always a very nice thing for a striker. Rashford knows that he has the quality to score goals and help his team, and when the team is not playing well, you need those players to score. 

There is no doubt that Marcus has to behave in a certain way because of what you just mentioned. He’s always under scrutiny. He has to understand. He can’t just ask people to shut up. They’re not going to do it. They love his name, they love the affiliation to Manchester United, a club that is followed everywhere in the world.

Rashford is an English player in one of the most popular football teams in the world. You have to understand that scrutiny is normal because a superstar. 

He perhaps thinks that he’s still very young and that he should be protected from all the scrutiny and left to get on with his football. People don’t see it that way because, in some ways, Marcus is at the stage where he’s got the status which demands more than a normal player. This is the problem, and he has to play with this.

Marcus has to actually show his obsession about football again. He needs to clearly show that he’s obsessed, and that he wants to be the best player. 

If he’s doing something outside the game, he will understand the consequences.

You can do whatever you want, travel everywhere you want, but there are consequences. If you are obsessed, you don’t need those distractions. He should be obsessed, which will only improve his game.

When you see interviews with athletes that he really admires, they all say the same thing. When they want to reach the top, they train more than anybody. You don’t see them doing anything outside.

When you’re not playing at Ballon d’Or level, you have no luxury to go outside because people will notice, this is the balance that you need to find. 

I’m sure that he’s been advised to enjoy his life, to relax, but with this stage, with his status, it’s not possible. He has to be obsessed.

He has to be ready to focus on how to connect with the fans. This is an element because of being a local boy. I don’t know how much he needs to do on that. 

When he is going to have targets, when he is playing in a system where he enjoys his football again, I’m sure that he’s not going to have to concentrate on what he’s doing away from the pitch.” 

Arsenal vs Manchester United

The toughest test of Ruben Amorim’s short start to life in the Premier League. Are you expecting Arsenal to show him exactly how far away they are from competing with the top teams in the Premier League? 

The players need to actually use this platform against Arsenal to create an improvement benchmark. Arsenal is definitely a different type of animal to the opponents that Amorim has faced so far. 

The quality of Arsenal going forward is just amazing and will provide way more trouble that we had against Everton. Definitely, it’s going to be a big test and United need to be in their top form and full of confidence.

Tactically, it will maybe provide a bit more understanding, because he may have chosen a certain type of plan based on the players that he’s got. Maybe you will see something closer to the first 11 that he wants to play week in week out. 

It will be a huge test, but if they do win, it’s a massive statement. I’m sure the manager is looking forward to this type of fixture.”

If you could pinch one Arsenal player and put them in this Manchester United team, who would you choose and why? 

Louis Saha: ”Odegaard is someone that I really like. His intelligence as a provider is similar to Bruno Fernandes. I like his capacity to be In and out of the box. The area that he’s playing, sometimes he’s playing deep, sometimes he’s playing really high. 

He provides the connection with the midfield and the strikers, so I really like his positioning. I would think that that’s what United needs to create chances, to create a high tempo, to create a bit of extra quality. Technically, when there is a bit of pressure, you can still give him the ball and it doesn’t matter to him.

So I would say Odegaard, even if I think physically, we perhaps need a player like Declan Rice in midfield.”

Tottenham

Ange is definitely the great entertainer, but can he be the great entertainer and win trophies with Tottenham? 

Louis Saha: ”Yes, no doubt Ange can win trophies with Tottenham. I think they have good players. This mentality, I think, works well for me.

They have players who seem very obsessed about their football. They try to be focused on providing that intensity, there is no position where they lack confidence. They don’t look that fragile anymore.

I think there style is better equipped to win trophies or cups. I’m less worried than I was maybe at the start of the season.”

Everton

Is Sean Dyche a man looking over his shoulder after the United result? 

Louis Saha: ”Yes, Sean Dyche is looking over his shoulder because it’s not just the challenge he faces this week, it’s the month. I think it’s going be a very tough month, so it’s going to be difficult if he doesn’t pick up points to provide hope.

If you lose 4-0 at Man United not playing well, and I don’t think that Man United are playing brilliantly – you can expect way more damage with teams that are more confident, so they have to be really careful. When you have those kinds of signs you have to be very careful.

If you manage to get a performance where you get a point, you get a good game, you can still hope to win the next one. 

During a month like this, we don’t expect them to have nine points, that’s for sure. It will be about performances, it will be about how close they are in the game, how difficult they made it for the opponent.I was a bit surprised by the high line at Old Trafford. I couldn’t really understand having it, when there’s such a speedy player like Rashford. They need to stop doing that, because they’re going to open themselves up to troubles.

In some ways, they made good mistakes. The first goal is a big mistake, and I think if it’s not the third, it’s the fourth. They have to stop doing this, they’re playing good stuff at times, but one or two mistakes were crucial.”

Fulham

Emile Smith-Rowe looks like a man revitalised playing at Craven Cottage. We’ve seen several players sparkle when they’ve moved to the Cottage who were struggling beforehand, why is Fulham such a welcoming place? 

Louis Saha: ”I am not sure why players get their mojo back at Fulham. I am sure that the manager has a big part in it. The club is such a lovely club, a family club. Those fans are demanding but they are not expecting you to win the championship every season. The pressure is less, I’m sure.

The manager can play some really good football, the guys are playing really well. They’re really having fun, and, at Fulham you don’t have the attention of the press all week.

The build-up is easier to do. 

They have a lot of elements that help players to be who they are, and the example of Emile Smith Rowe is that he can just enjoy his football. The reason the guy played for such a big team like Arsenal, is because he has talent.

I like how Fulham maintain and implement a philosophy for you to be courageous. A player with Smith-Rowe’s ability has to be put in the position where they can play at their best. Sometimes when you have more pressure on the result, you can’t do those things. Fulham manage to get that balance of confidence and getting a tactic that makes sense. The players get to express themselves and do the hard work when it’s required to.

Pereira, for example, arrived from United and other clubs that he joined before. You know, you could see that he wasn’t enjoying his game. But now, he’s a very slick player. He’s a very classy player, knows how to pass the ball, how to maintain this quality and the tempo. I love this.”

Louis’ Connections

David Moyes is a free agent at the moment. He’s been linked with a return to his former clubs Everton and even West Ham – if a Premier League club pulls a trigger on a manager, do you expect Moyes to be top of the list of candidates to fulfil the role? 

Louis Saha: ”I do think that David Moyes will be at the top of the list of any Premier League clubs that decide to sack their manager. He’s ranked as one of the top British managers and knows the Premier League really well. He’s already managed some of the current strugglers, so he’s definitely a top candidate to come back.I’m not sure which one, but you can see he’s the type of manager who is very dedicated, very respected. You can see why he’s going to be hired. I don’t think that he’s going to be searching for a long time. He’s always going to be in that top five on the shortlist for clubs.”

You had a wonderful partnership with Wayne Rooney for Manchester United. He’s obviously managing at Plymouth, but he would love to look higher. Would he be a contender if a role at Everton did open up given his history with the club? 

Louis Saha: ”Why not? Why couldn’t Wayne be a contender to manage Everton if the opportunity came up. Talking about being obsessed, he really loves his football. He wants to pursue greatness as a manager. He wants to get the opportunity to learn as a manager with a different type of pressure, I think he will look forward to those kinds of opportunities.
I’m sure that he’s training and working really hard for those moments.

I’m not sure that he has proved to people that he deserves a big job yet. He obviously had amazing success in his playing career, but as a manager, he hasn’t been lucky. 

Any opportunity that comes his way should be because of how his team is playing, not because of his name. I think he needs to prove himself, that’s what Amorim did with Sporting and that’s why he was hired by United. He needs to succeed to earn a bigger opportunity.” 

Cristiano Ronaldo keeps banging the goals in. His contract expires next season – could he come back to European football and possibly the Premier League or do you think he will sign a new deal with Al-Nassr? 

Louis Saha: ”I don’t know if Ronaldo will come back to the Premier League, because there’s nothing that you can predict with this guy, so it’s hard to know for sure. 

Who would have said he would have scored that amount of goals by now? This guy is chasing 1000. I don’t know what to say.

Ronaldo has eyes on the stuff that normal people don’t have. I would still think that whatever he’s got in his mind, he’s capable of doing it because he’s obsessed. Perhaps a chairman wants to take a chance on him. There are still a lot of things that Ronaldo can do – he’s aging like a fine wine.”