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Arne Slot hits back at Wayne Rooney 'aura' dig with Jurgen Klopp response to Man Utd icon

Arne Slot has been under pressure as Liverpool boss this season and Wayne Rooney this week questioned whether the Dutchman has the 'aura' to lead the Reds

[Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the Premier League match between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage on January 04, 2026 in London, England. ]

Arne Slot has responded to a claim made by Wayne Rooney(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot has responded to Wayne Rooney's claims that he lacks the "aura" to manage Liverpool by highlighting that such criticisms weren't being voiced when he was winning the Premier League last season.

Slot has faced mounting pressure throughout much of the campaign following a challenging title defence for the Reds, who currently sit outside the top four and the automatic Champions League qualification spots. This prompted former Manchester United and England striker Rooney to draw comparisons between the Liverpool head coach and his predecessor Jurgen Klopp this week, suggesting Slot doesn't possess the same 'aura' for the role.

"I just don't think, for Liverpool, he [Slot] has that aura," Rooney stated on The Overlap Fan Debate earlier this week, reports the Liverpool Echo. "Maybe that's because Liverpool have just come off the back of Jurgen [Klopp] as manager. It's difficult for anyone to do that, but I just don't think there is that aura about him."

[Wayne Rooney speaks into a microphone]

Wayne Rooney recently claimed Arne Slot does not have the same 'aura' as Jurgen Klopp(Image: PA)

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Slot has now been quizzed for his thoughts on the remarks. "Comparing people with each other is something everyone has the right to do, but is that fair to compare people with each other? We are all different, Slot responded.

"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 something.

"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 aura, yeah. I can talk about him, not about myself, but he definitely had that. But a winning manager has an aura as well."

Slot, whose Liverpool side face Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, believes the relentless spotlight from an ever-growing number of media outlets means those in his role are much less likely to enjoy extended tenures like Klopp and current Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

[Arne Slot]

Liverpool are currently in sixth place in the Premier League this season(Image: Getty Images)

"I got this question a few months ago and I was a bit surprised but when I later thought about it, I think it's harder now because there's so much being said about football, so much more than 10 years ago," Slot said.

"The moment you start to lose one or two games now, then there's much more being spoken about it and much more emphasis on it. So that makes it more difficult. I think the job has become harder because of all the media attention.

"Jurgen 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.

"Is the power more with the players now than it's ever been before? I would argue that is true. I don't think that has changed in football.

"The question is always do owners or the people who decide listen to players if, if, if they are not positive about you. And that's different in every club."

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