Liverpool boss Arne Slot says the club's sporting director Richard Hughes has a "low ego" and provides "ideal circumstances" to work in with his level of involvement.
Hughes was appointed before the start of the 2024-25 season, as Slot succeeded Jurgen Klopp as head coach, and oversaw the Reds' bumper 2025 summer transfer spend of £415m.
"We have spoken almost on a daily basis since we started, you get to know each other even better," Slot told an episode of 'The Reds Roundtable' published on the club’s YouTube channel.
"What I really like about working for a sporting director is that whenever I need him, he is there for me. But you don't constantly feel that all the decisions you are making, he is judging them. Maybe he does but then he finds a really good way of hiding it!
"You want to have the backup when needed and advice, but you don't want two eyes on top of you constantly on every decision you make. I think Richard finds that balance really well for me to work in ideal circumstances.
"I've worked with sporting directors who are very keen on the ones they have signed and what makes Richard special is that he's not only focused on the ones he signed, he is there for Liverpool to win and not (just) for his signings to do well.
"That's something you don't always see with sporting directors. It's safe to say he has a low ego."
On finding the balance between advising, interjecting, and allowing the head coach to do his job, Hughes added: "Fundamentally, there's the understanding for both parties and everyone at wide, that everything involving matchday, team selection, tactics, that's always the manager or head coach.
"That's their domain. It's very important not to step into that.
"Of course we talk about football and performances but I always let Arne lead that. Naturally in a conversation I will come up with an opinion and not just react to Arne's, but always waiting for the right time to share these things is critical."
