Arne Slot was quick to remind Wayne Rooney of his managerial achievements after the Manchester United legend suggested he lacked the ‘aura’ to be the Liverpool boss.
Slot has seen his role at Anfield come under increasing scrutiny throughout a season through which the Reds have largely flattered to deceive.
Having cruised to the Premier League title within the Dutchman’s first season on the club, Liverpool now sit sixth and in peril of missing out on Champions League football next season.
Rooney recently questioned Slot’s suitability for the Liverpool job, partly because the previous United captain believes Slot lacks the charisma of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
Speaking on the Overlap, he said: ‘I just don’t think, for Liverpool, he has that aura.
‘Possibly that’s because Liverpool have just come off the back of Jurgen as manager. It’s difficult for anyone to try this, but I just don’t think there may be that aura about him.’
But asked about those comments ahead of his side’s trip to face Nottingham Forest, Slot was keen to remind Rooney concerning the differing success within the dugout.
Get your football fix
Don’t need to miss the week’s biggest football stories? Metro’s exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.
From the newest transfer rumours and managerial moves to evaluation of the largest games and lots more, our experts have you ever covered.
Enroll here, it’s an open goal.
‘Comparing individuals with one another is something everyone has the proper to do, but is that fair to match individuals with one another?’ Slot said.
‘We’re all different. The one thing we’ve got in common, Jurgen and me, is that we each won the league – and that’s not too bad, is it?
‘I feel the more a manager wins, the more aura he has – that’s usually. I don’t know if you happen to agree with Wayne Rooney by the best way, but when this is able to be the final opinion, then I feel people would probably inform you last season I had more aura than this season.
‘But perhaps he’s the just one who has this opinion, I don’t know, you tell me. It’s the primary time that I heard this, but I feel it’s fair to say that Jurgen definitely has an aura.
‘I can discuss him, not about myself, but he definitely had that [aura]. But, a winning manager has an aura as well.’
Rooney has been out of management since being sacked by Plymouth Argyle in December 2024 after a begin to the season which yielded only five wins from 25 matches.
Prior to that, the 40-year-old had mixed stints at Derby County and DC United before an ill-fated 15-match spell in command of Birmingham City.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Chelsea vs Burnley: Predicted lineup today and confirmed team news
MORE: Rio Ferdinand reveals Michael Carrick was convinced Man Utd star would win Ballon d’Or
MORE: Marcus Rashford handed Barcelona transfer blow following Michael Carrick’s Man Utd offer