Hungary manager Marco Rossi says he has answered Arne Slot’s calls to play his two Liverpool players less during the international break.
Rossi hit out at Slot heading into Hungary’s match against Slovenia on Saturday, suggesting that the Dutchman should not interfere after he suggested some of his Reds stars could do with a break this March.
But having substituted both Milos Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai in his team’s 1-0 friendly win, the Italian coach backtracked, admitting that he is a ‘nobody’ compared to Slot.
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Arne Slot reacts with frustration during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg match against Galatasaray at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine
Szoboszlai and Kerkez get a rest
While Kerkez has had plenty of rest as a rotational option with Andy Robertson this term, everyone at Liverpool would surely love to see Szoboszlai given a break ahead of the season’s crucial run in.
That happened on Saturday, but only to a very small degree, with the Hungary captain taken off in the 87th minute of the win over Slovenia. Kerkez was subbed 11 minutes earlier, leading Rossi to mention both players – and Slot – at full-time.
“I’ve read nonsense in the press,” he said via Nemzeti Sport. “You can’t imagine that I would be so arrogant, conceited and stupid as to compare myself to a coach who manages a team in the Premier League.
“I am not comparable to the Liverpool manager, I had no intention of that happening at all.”
Dominik Szoboszlai applauds supporters after Hungary's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Republic of Ireland in Dublin
Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
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“Arne Slot said he hoped his players wouldn’t play two games. I saved Dominik Szoboszlai ten minutes and Milos Kerkez twenty.”
Rossi went further on Slot, insisting that the 47-year-old should be given ‘maximum respect,’ dispelling any notion of trouble bubbling between the pair.
“Slot is a coach of a top club,” he said. “He deserves maximum respect. I am nobody. But since I am the head coach of the Hungarian national team, I think the Hungarian national team also deserves respect, at least because of its past. There is no dispute between us.”
It is unquestionably good news that Rossi ultimately decided to listen to Slot and take two key Liverpool players off during what was a meaningless match. However, the real test will be when the Magyars face Greece on Tuesday. There is no need for either Kerkez or Szoboszlai to feature. Somehow, though, despite Rossi’s protestations, we have a feeling they will.
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