Sometimes you learn more about someone in defeat than you ever do in victory. Arne Slot's reaction to his Liverpool sacking tells you everything you need to know about the character we've just lost.

The Dutchman was completely blindsided by his dismissal last weekend. Having guided us to a fifth-place finish and Champions League qualification, he genuinely believed his job was safe. After our final match, he stated he had "every reason to believe" he'd still be here when the new season kicked off.

A week later, he was clearing out his office. Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan described it as "an absolute thunder in a clear blue sky" for Slot, revealing he spoke to the manager briefly on the Sunday and found him "still recovering from the absolute blow that this was."

Yet here's what separates class from mediocrity. Despite being caught completely off guard, Slot harboured no resentment towards FSG. Van der Kraan confirmed the manager "wasn't bitter" about the owners' change of direction, even as Andoni Iraola was being lined up as his replacement.

Slot's open letter to supporters reinforced this dignity. He described winning the Premier League as "beyond special" and wrote with genuine warmth about his connection to the club and its fans. "The connection we share goes beyond football, beyond European nights under the Anfield lights or the sound of You'll Never Walk Alone being sung from The Kop," he penned. "You made me feel welcome from the start and helped me on the path. That is something I cherish."

That's not the language of bitterness or recrimination. It's the response of someone who genuinely understood what this club means, even if the results didn't always reflect that understanding.

Slot particularly highlighted how our title triumph felt "even more meaningful" because supporters could participate in the celebrations, unlike the pandemic-affected 2020 championship. It shows he grasped the emotional core of what makes Liverpool special, even if he couldn't consistently translate that into performances on the pitch.

The timing feels brutal, particularly after securing Champions League football. But football is rarely sentimental, and FSG clearly decided a change was needed despite the European qualification. The appointment of Iraola on a two-year deal suggests they want a return to more dynamic, attacking football – qualities that were notably absent during Slot's second season.

Iraola brings his own vision, reportedly keen to install assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, alongside analyst Tom Webber and fitness coach Pablo de la Torre. The club's ambition for high-tempo, attacking football represents a clear departure from what we witnessed last term.

As for Slot's future, van der Kraan suggested the Netherlands job could beckon after the World Cup, with the journalist indicating Slot would be "very much up for that" challenge and describing him as "probably the ideal candidate." Given the current manager's contract expires post-tournament, it could be perfect timing.

Slot's gracious exit reminds us that character matters as much as trophies. He may not have delivered the consistency we demanded, but he's shown the dignity we'd hope for from anyone associated with this club.

Sometimes the measure of a man isn't how he handles success, but how he responds when things fall apart around him.