Rossi Fires Back at Slot Over International Break Player Demands
Hungary’s national team manager, Marco Rossi, has publicly voiced his strong disapproval of Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s request for his key players, including Hungarian captain Dominik Szoboszlai, to be rested during the upcoming international break. Slot had appealed to national team coaches to manage player fatigue, citing concerns over the demanding schedule.
Szoboszlai has emerged as a standout performer for Liverpool this season, consistently delivering impactful performances from midfield. His contributions have been significant, with the 25-year-old netting 12 goals and providing eight assists. His importance to the Reds is underscored by his impressive tally of 43 appearances this campaign, second only to Virgil van Dijk. Furthermore, Szoboszlai has even been called upon to fill in at right-back due to injuries, highlighting his versatility and commitment.
Rossi used Slot’s own tactical decisions regarding Szoboszlai’s positioning as a counter-argument to the call for rest. He emphasised that the national team holds paramount importance and that he would not be dictated to by club managers.
“Personally, I have never spoken to Slot, and I have never had any say in when and what decision he makes, when he will play Dominik as a full-back,” Rossi stated, as reported by Hungarian newspaper Magyar Hirlap.
He continued, “But I would also expect him not to interfere in my work. It is not just me who decides this; I am not obliged to play anyone. If Dominik said he would like to rest, of course I would allow him. But we know that he is the captain of this national team, the national jersey is his priority. If we had to save his energy, whether it was for him or anyone else, he could do it. However, for us, the national team is the priority; now it is about playing good games.”
Szoboszlai is not the only Liverpool player featuring in the Hungary squad. He is joined by his club teammate Milos Kerkez. Hungary is scheduled to play two friendly matches during this international window: a home fixture against Slovenia on Saturday, followed by a match against Greece on Tuesday.
Interestingly, Slovenia’s manager, Bostjan Cesar, has also issued a similar warning to Manchester United regarding the availability of their star striker, Benjamin Sesko. Cesar stressed that he would not be swayed by the demands of Premier League giants concerning Sesko’s participation. However, Sesko himself will not be featuring in either of Slovenia’s friendlies as he is currently recovering from a minor issue.
Slot’s Plea for Player Welfare
Liverpool manager Arne Slot had previously expressed his hope that his players would not be subjected to playing the full 180 minutes across both international fixtures. This plea came in the wake of Liverpool’s recent 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League, a match that followed their Champions League last-16 victory.
“I think the players need a break more than the manager, and unfortunately, they have to keep on playing,” Slot had commented to the BBC. “Let’s hope that their national team coaches do understand that at Liverpool, a lot of players have played a lot of minutes. But I think other clubs perhaps could have rotated more than I could have this season. So, let’s hope that we’ve got national team coaches that will not play them 180 minutes over two games.”
Slot and Liverpool are bracing themselves for a crucial period of fixtures immediately following the international break. The Reds currently sit in fifth place in the Premier League table, engaged in a fierce battle to secure Champions League qualification for the next season. Their return to club action will see them face a formidable challenge as they travel to face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4th. This high-stakes encounter is followed four days later by a clash against holders PSG in the same stage of the Champions League. The intensity of these upcoming matches underscores Slot’s concerns about player workload and the potential impact of international duty.
