Arne Slot lacks the ‘aura’ to be Liverpool’s manager. That’s what Wayne Rooney thinks, anyway.
The former Manchester United star joined many who have criticised Slot for Liverpool’s performances this season in comparing him to Jurgen Klopp: ‘I have met [Slot] a couple of times, but I just don’t think, for Liverpool, he has that aura,’ Rooney said on The Overlap Fan Debate.
‘Maybe that’s because Liverpool have just come off the back of Klopp as manager – it’s difficult for anyone to do that but I just don’t think there is that aura about him.’
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Rooney justifies his comments well – compare anyone to Klopp and they’ll seem a bit dull – but it does lean towards disrespect to suggest Liverpool’s failures in the past six to eight months are down to the manager’s vibes.
Yes, Slot doesn’t help himself with his stubborn honesty in press conferences but let’s not forget that he managed to win the Premier League last season, aura or not.
Is Arne Slot the right manager for Liverpool?
Carlo Ancelotti, a man whose CV dictates you couldn’t accuse him of lacking a presence, once said: ‘They appoint me for being calm. Then they sack me and say ‘too calm!’
There’s a tendency to think that Liverpool’s season would have been dramatically different if only Slot had a bit more aggression about him, a bit more passion, a bit more Klopp.
That might be true, but would a manager with that style have come in last season and won the league? Perhaps not.
Slot has, in many ways, been let down by those above him this season. It sounds ridiculous to say that a side that spent north of £450m on some of the most sought-after talents in world football could be lacking depth, but that’s been proven time and time again – especially on the wings and in defence.
Should Liverpool change their manager at the end of the season?
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Yes
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No
Liverpool can still win trophies
Could Slot have managed this season better? Absolutely, but given the mood music a few months ago, things now seem relatively rosy.
They’re in the fifth round of the FA Cup and would expect to make the quarter finals with a win over Wolves. They are two points off a Champions League spot and don’t play anyone in the top half in their next six league games.
The injury list is shortening – Jeremie Frimpong is expected to be back in the right-back spot next week which will free up Dominik Szoboszlai to return to his best in midfield, and Alexander Isak can still have a huge impact when he’s back in potentially a month’s time.
It’s also not unrealistic to suggest that Liverpool can win the Champions League this season. They won’t be afraid of their potential opponents in the round of 16: Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasary and Juventus.
If they build up some momentum before those ties take place in three weeks’ time, it might start to feel like Slot has some of that missing aura about him.
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