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 in which the Reds have largely flattered to deceive.
Having cruised to the Premier League title in the Dutchman’s first season at the club, Liverpool now sit sixth and in danger of missing out on Champions League football next season.
Rooney recently questioned Slot’s suitability for the Liverpool job, in part because the former 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.
‘Maybe that’s because Liverpool have just come off the back of Jurgen as manager. It’s difficult for anyone to do that, but I just don’t think there is 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 about the differing success in the dugout.
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‘Comparing people with each other is something everyone has the right to do, but is that fair to compare people with each other?’ Slot said.
‘We are all different. The only thing we have in common, Jurgen and me, is that we both won the league – and that’s not too bad, is it?
‘I think the more a manager wins, the more aura he has – that’s in general. I don’t know if you agree with Wayne Rooney by the way, but if this would be the general opinion, then I think people would probably tell you last season I had more aura than this season.
‘But maybe he’s the only one who has this opinion, I don’t know, you tell me. It’s the first time that I heard this, but I think it’s fair to say that Jurgen definitely has an aura.
‘I can talk about 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 start 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 charge of Birmingham City.
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