Hungary boss Marco Rossi has taken aim at Arne Slot after the Liverpool head coach pushed for his stars, including Dominik Szoboszlai, to be rested during the international break.
Slot made the plea to international managers to protect his players, having expressed concerns over fatigue.
Szoboszlai has been widely viewed as Liverpool’s best player this season, with the Hungarian contributing 12 goals and eight assists from midfield.
The 25-year-old has racked up 43 appearances for the Reds so far this campaign – with only Virgil van Dijk playing more – while he has also been forced to deputise at right back due to injuries.
Rossi referenced Slot’s use of Szoboszlai at full back as he pushed back against his call for the Hungary star to be rested, stressing that the national team was a ‘priority’.
‘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 said, as per Hungarian newspaper Magyar Hirlap.
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez could be involved for Hungary in two friendlies over the international break
Hungary boss Marco Rossi aimed a dig as Arne Slot for his suggestion that Szoboszlai should be rested
‘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 joined in the Hungary squad by his Liverpool team-mate Milos Kerkez.
Hungary are set to host Slovenia in a friendly on Saturday, before welcoming Greece on Tuesday.
Slovenia’s manager Bostjan Cesar had issued a similar warning to Man United this week, stressing that he will not be pushed around by the Premier League giants over Benjamin Sesko’s availability.
Sesko, however, will not play a part in either of Slovenia’s friendlies during the international break as he recovers from a small issue.
Liverpool boss Slot has expressed hope that his players will be spared playing the full 180 minutes over two games during the international period.
Slot has expressed concerns over fatigue among his Liverpool players, with Szoboszlai having racked up 43 appearances for the Reds so far this season
He had made the plea following Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat by Brighton in the Premier League last week, which came days after their victory in the Champions League last-16.
‘I think the players need a break more than the manager and unfortunately they have to keep on playing,’ Slot told 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 will face a vital run of fixtures after the internationals, with the Reds currently fifth in the Premier League and facing a battle to earn Champions League qualification next season.
His side will next be in action when they travel to Man City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4, four days before facing holders PSG in the same stage of the Champions League.
