Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic has voiced his strong belief that the club would not be fighting relegation if he had been appointed at the beginning of the season — a pointed remark that appears to reflect on former boss Wayne Rooney’s tenure.
The Austrian tactician, who took charge after Rooney’s New Year’s Eve departure, has reignited hopes of survival at Home Park with just two matches remaining. His side stunned Coventry City, contenders for the play-offs, on Monday, taking Muslic’s tally to nine home points gained from fixtures against Premier League-chasing sides.
While Argyle remain three points adrift of safety, Muslic is adamant that the current situation could have been avoided altogether.
“I think if I’m the head coach from day one we will be far, far away from the relegation zone, we will be safe five games ago,” he said. “I truly believe if I will be here with my staff from day one, we will be nowhere near where we are right now.
Muslic continued to praise his squad’s resilience, noting their performances in recent weeks as proof of their potential under his stewardship.
“The performance today, the performance at Middlesbrough [where they lost 2-1] — we’ve taken nine points at Home Park against Norwich, against Sheffield United, against Coventry. These are teams playing for the Premier League and they all lost here in Plymouth at Home Park, that gives me the confidence.”
Rooney’s Spell
Rooney’s short spell at the club was marked by a poor run of form that left Argyle languishing near the foot of the table. Since Muslic’s arrival, there has been a clear uptick in both results and morale, though time is running out to complete the great escape.
Plymouth’s fate now hinges on their final fixtures, where any slip-ups could confirm their relegation to League One. Still, under Muslic, there remains cautious optimism that the turnaround may yet be completed.
Site Opinion
Miron Muslic’s comments may be bold, but they’re far from baseless. The transformation he has overseen at Home Park speaks volumes, particularly when judged against the backdrop of a turbulent first half of the season. His tactical approach and motivational drive have visibly lifted a squad that looked lost under Rooney. The difference in belief and cohesion on the pitch is undeniable.
From Plymouth’s perspective, this isn’t just about Championship survival — it’s about learning who they want to be moving forward. Muslic has not only stabilised the team; he’s redefined its potential. Whether or not survival is secured this season, keeping hold of him may prove to be the real victory. One can only wonder how different this season might have looked had his journey started a few months earlier.
