Arne Slot hits back at Wayne Rooney dig and makes clear Jurgen Klopp point
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Arne Slot Hits Back at Wayne Rooney Dig and Makes Clear Jurgen Klopp Point
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has responded forcefully to criticism from Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, who questioned Slot's suitability to lead the Reds long-term due to a perceived lack of "aura." Rooney's comments came amid Liverpool's struggles this season, following their Premier League triumph under Slot in 2024/25.
Currently sitting sixth in the Premier League, Liverpool trail fourth-placed Manchester United by three points and leaders Arsenal by 15. Speculation about Slot's future has intensified, with rumors suggesting the board might opt for a mid-season change but prefers waiting until summer.
On The Overlap, Rooney stated: “It’s strange isn’t it when you’re talking about Slot being on an audition to keep his job when he has obviously recently won the Premier League. I have met him a couple of times, but I just don’t think, for Liverpool, he has that aura – and maybe that’s because Liverpool have just come off the back of Jurgen Klopp as manager – it’s difficult for anyone to do that.”[1]
Slot hit back, emphasizing his achievements and the challenges of succeeding a icon like Klopp. He made clear that while Klopp's larger-than-life personality set an impossibly high bar, his own pragmatic style delivered tangible success last season. Slot pointed to key player dips as the root of current woes, echoing Rooney's observations on underperforming stars.
Rooney noted: “If you look at Liverpool last season to now, [Mohamed] Salah and [Virgil] van Dijk haven’t been their best. Then you’ve got Trent [Alexander-Arnold] who’s missing, [Andy] Robertson hasn’t played a lot of games, Luiz Díaz [left] and the [Diogo] Jota situation.”[1] Slot agreed, stressing injuries and form slumps rather than any personal deficit, while defending his authority and vision for the club.
The exchange highlights the pressure on Slot to restore Liverpool's dominance, with fans and pundits divided on whether he can forge his own legacy post-Klopp. Despite the dip, Slot remains defiant, focusing on tactical adjustments and squad recovery to climb the table.
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