Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has hit back at critics following Wayne Rooney's comments suggesting that he lacks the same "aura" as his predecessor Jürgen Klopp. In a surprising admission, Slot also conceded that managing a top-tier football club in today's media-saturated environment is more challenging than ever.
Slot reminded critics that he has won the same number of Premier League titles as Klopp. This comes after Rooney suggested that while Slot is a "nice fella," he doesn't possess the same commanding presence compared to Klopp.
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, said:
“The only thing we have in common, Jürgen 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 something.”
“Last season I had more aura than this season. Maybe [Rooney] is the only one who has this opinion … It's the first time that I heard this but I think it’s fair to say that Jürgen definitely has an aura. I can talk about him, not about myself, but he definitely had that. But a winning manager has an aura as well.”
The Dutch manager has seen Liverpool transition from last season’s title triumph to battling for Champions League qualification within months—a downturn similar to what Klopp experienced after his sole Premier League championship in 2019–20. However, with inconsistent results under his belt and Liverpool set to face Nottingham Forest this weekend, Slot questioned how "fair" it was to compare him with Klopp.
Challenges of longevity
Klopp managed Liverpool from October 2015 until May 2024—a reign spanning nine seasons—dictating his departure terms rather than being shown the door by the club. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is nearing the end of his decade-long tenure at Manchester City. Slot believes maintaining such longevity in management is increasingly difficult due to heightened media scrutiny and pressure.
Arne Slot added:
“Jürgen did so well, Pep did so well, but the biggest accomplishment is maybe to do this job for 10 years, because it's hard work, I can tell you. Many people work hard, but it's also mentally hard,”
Guardiola took a year off management in 2012 due to intense scrutiny and mental fatigue—a phenomenon not unfamiliar in La Liga either—and more recently claimed Xavi Hernández at Barcelona had similar experiences. Slot suggests that the real achievement for managers like Klopp and Guardiola is not just winning trophies, but enduring in their roles for a decade. He said: “Jürgen did so well, Pep did so well, but the biggest accomplishment is maybe to do this job for 10 years...it's hard work...it's also mentally hard.”
This statement hints at Slot’s future with Liverpool. Despite having a contract until the end of the 2026–27 season, he seems unlikely to challenge Klopp’s nine-year stay. If he were still at Anfield by summer 2033, he would surpass it—but right now, that feels like an eternity away.
