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  "path": "/sport/football/arne-slot-wayne-rooney-liverpool-manager-criticism",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-21T12:26:56.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Vincent Kompany attacks Mourinho for suggesting Vinicius Jr 'incited' Benfica players in racism row",
    "Michael Carrick hits back at Roy Keane and Gary Neville after Manchester United branded 'circus act'",
    "Premier League referees 'lose faith in VAR technology' as lengthy delays in decisions continue",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nLiverpool manager Arne Slot has responded to Wayne Rooney's assertion that he lacks the necessary \"aura\" for the Anfield role, highlighting a key similarity between himself and his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.\n\nSlot said: \"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?\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Dutchman suggested that success breeds presence.\n\nHe said: \"I think the more a manager wins, the more aura he has - that's in general.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSlot questioned whether Rooney's view was widely shared, noting it was the first time he had encountered such criticism.\n\nThe former Manchester United and England striker made his comments on The Overlap earlier this week, drawing unfavourable comparisons between Slot and Klopp.\n\nRooney said: \"I just don't think, for Liverpool, he has that aura.\n\n\"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.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nRooney, who has been without a managerial position since leaving Plymouth Argyle in December 2024, also suggested Slot could face the sack if Liverpool fails to secure Champions League football this season.\n\nThe reigning champions currently occupy sixth position in the table as they prepare to travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.\n\nDespite a challenging title defence, Liverpool's recent results offer encouragement, with the club suffering only two defeats in their previous 14 league matches.\n\nThis improved consistency has brought them back into contention for a top-five finish, which would likely be sufficient to secure Champions League qualification.\n\n### LATEST SPORT NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Vincent Kompany attacks Mourinho for suggesting Vinicius Jr 'incited' Benfica players in racism row\n  * Michael Carrick hits back at Roy Keane and Gary Neville after Manchester United branded 'circus act'\n  * Premier League referees 'lose faith in VAR technology' as lengthy delays in decisions continue\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nManchester United and Chelsea currently sit above Liverpool in fourth and fifth place, respectively, intensifying the battle for European football.\n\nLiverpool suffered a 3-0 defeat to Forest at Anfield in November, one of several painful results during a difficult campaign.\n\nSlot acknowledged that the demands of modern management have intensified significantly, making extended tenures increasingly difficult to achieve.\n\nHe explained: \"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.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSlot added: \"So that makes it more difficult and I think the job, in my opinion, has become harder because of all the media attention.\"\n\nThe Liverpool boss praised the longevity achieved by Klopp and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, suggesting their decade-long spells represent remarkable accomplishments.\n\nSlot added: \"To do this job for eight, nine, 10 years - 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.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Arne Slot hits back at Wayne Rooney as Liverpool manager makes feelings clear on criticism"
}