Hungary national team coach Marco Rossi don gree for Liverpool manager Arne Slot after di Dutch coach ask say make international coaches rest im players during dis break. Slot talk say im hope say national team coaches go understand say Liverpool players don play plenty minutes dis season, and dem no go play dem for 180 minutes for two matches.
But Rossi, wey dey manage Hungary, come reply sharp sharp for im press conference before Hungary friendly match against Slovenia. Di Italian coach talk say im never talk to Slot personally before, and im never get say for wen Slot dey play Dominik Szoboszlai as defender for Liverpool. Rossi talk say: “I would also expect him not to interfere in my work.”
Szoboszlai na di captain of Hungary national team and im dey important for dem. For Liverpool dis season, di attacking midfielder don play 3,848 minutes already – only Virgil van Dijk don play pass am with 4,041 minutes. Szoboszlai don score 12 goals and give 8 assists for all competitions, and im even don play as right back 10 times dis season because of injuries for Liverpool squad.
Rossi explain say if Szoboszlai sef talk say im wan rest, im go allow am. But im emphasize say “everyone knows how important the national team jersey is to him as a team captain.” Di Hungary coach talk say wetin dey important for Hungary now na to end dia two friendly matches against Slovenia and Greece with good results.
Dis matter come dey happen as Liverpool dey face difficult season. Dem dey 21 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, and Slot im job dey under pressure. Gary Neville talk for Stick to Football podcast say Slot dey under more pressure now after Mohamed Salah announce say im go leave Liverpool at di end of di season.
For Hungary side, dem get another Liverpool player wey dey important – left back Milos Kerkez. Both Szoboszlai and Kerkez dey key players for Hungary as dem dey prepare for World Cup qualifiers. Rossi talk say for Hungary, national team na priority now.
Slot im comment about players needing rest come after Liverpool lose to Brighton for Premier League, wey be dia 10th league loss dis season. Di Dutch coach talk say: “Unfortunately, it looks like my players are in more of a need of a rest than me.” But Rossi no gree with dat kind talk wen im dey manage Hungary players.
Dis na not di first time Szoboszlai im playing position dey cause talk. For Liverpool dis season, Slot don play di Hungarian star as right back because of injury to Jeremie Frimpong, and im prefer am to young Calvin Ramsay. Szoboszlai don perform well for dat unfamiliar position, but Hungary coach Rossi no dey interested for dat as im dey build attacking team for World Cup.
Hungary no qualify for 2026 World Cup, but dem still get important matches to play. Szoboszlai don start and play every minute of Hungary six matches dis season, and im total minutes for club and country don reach 4,388. Some Liverpool fans dey hope say Rossi go allow Szoboszlai rest for at least one of dis month friendly matches.
Di tension between club and country coaches over player workload na common matter for football, especially as season dey near end and players dey tired. But Rossi im strong response show say national team coaches no dey always ready to follow club manager instructions about dia players.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
