Liverpool manager Arn Slott has dismissed claims that Wayne Rooney does not have the “aura” to manage at the top level, pointing to last season’s Premier League title win.
Arne Slott responds to Wayne Rooney’s comments (Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Manager Arne Slott has dismissed suggestions that Wayne Rooney lacks the “aura” required to be Liverpool manager, insisting such criticism did not come when he lifted the Premier League trophy last season.
Slott has come under increasing scrutiny throughout the season after the Reds’ struggle to defend their title, which currently sits outside of the top four and automatic Champions League places.
The situation prompted former England striker Rooney this week to draw unfavorable comparisons between the Liverpool manager and his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, claiming that Slott doesn’t have the presence needed for the role.
“I don’t think he (Slot) has that aura for Liverpool,” Rooney said at the Overlap Fan Debate earlier this week. “Maybe it’s because Liverpool have just gotten rid of Jurgen (Klopp) as manager. It’s difficult for anyone to do that, but I don’t think he has that aura.”
However, when asked about this comment, Slott said: “Everyone has the right to compare people, but is it fair to compare people? We’re all different.
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“The only thing that Jurgen and I have in common is that we both won the league – that’s not such a bad thing, is it?
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“I think the more a coach wins, the more his aura increases. That’s generally true.”
“By the way, I don’t know if you agree with Wayne Rooney, but if this was a general opinion, people would probably say last season had more aura than this season. But maybe he’s the only one with this opinion. I don’t know, you tell me. It’s the first time I’ve heard this.”
“But I think it’s fair to say that Jurgen definitely has an aura. Well, I can speak for him and not for myself, but he definitely had that. But there’s also an aura about winning managers.”
Slott, whose Liverpool side take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, believes the relentless scrutiny from an ever-increasing number of media platforms means those in his role are far less likely to enjoy the same long tenure as Klopp or current Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola.
“I was a little surprised when I got this question a few months ago, but in hindsight I think it’s harder now because there’s so much more being said about football than there was 10 years ago,” Slott said.
Liverpool face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this weekend (Image: Getty Images)
“Now, when you start losing one or two games, a lot more is said about it, a lot more emphasis is put on it. So it’s more difficult. I think the job is even more difficult because of the media attention.”
“Both Jurgen and Pep have done very well, but the biggest achievement is probably to have been able to do this job for 10 years, because it’s hard work. A lot of people work hard, but it’s also mentally hard.”
“Are players more powerful now than ever before? I would argue that’s true. I don’t think that has changed in football.”
“The question is always, do the owners and the people making the decisions listen to the players if they don’t like you? And it varies from club to club.”
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