Two words stood out in Andoni Iraola's first press conference as major Liverpool shift felt
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Andoni Iraola made a good first impression as he spoke to the media for the first time as Liverpool head coach, with the Spaniard making a brave choice by uttering two words fans have come to loatheAndoni Iraola speaks during his first press conference as Liverpool head coach(Image: Getty Images)Two years on from Arne Slot and Richard Hughes walking through the corridors of the AXA Training Centre, this felt like a slightly more understated welcome for Andoni Iraola to Liverpool.Perhaps that wasn’t entirely by coincidence. Coming from the school of Marcelo Bielsa, it feels like Iraola is happier on the training ground than in the limelight.Not that he’s under any illusions about the increased scrutiny he’ll be under now in his new job, and as first impressions go, it was a positive start from Liverpool’s new man at the helm.Change was clearly needed after last season.
As a fellow Premier League boss, Iraola must have been aware of the souring mood at Anfield, even if it didn’t seem like that on his last visit.It was something of a brave move, then, for the new Liverpool boss to bring up two words that supporters had become increasingly tired of hearing from his predecessor: low block.Arne Slot regularly bemoaned low blocks during his time in charge(Image: Getty Images)Every negative result — and there were plenty of them last season — seemed to be followed by Slot bemoaning what has become the go-to phrase in the Premier League, but there was little sign of him actually finding a solution.Iraola though took a different approach. What Slot saw as a problem, his successor sees as an opportunity."I always say, I prefer to face low blocks in terms of, 'Okay, we will be in control of the game, probably we will concede less chances, we will spend a lot of time in the opposition half and those are the scenarios that we have to find,'" Iraola told reporters on Monday.“Some teams, they give you straight away that situation, perfect, other teams they don't give it straight away because they will try also to control the game, to play in your half.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.
Clearly, there’s a lot of work for Iraola to do to get this squad in a position where they can consistently break down those barriers, but it’s just a welcome change in the messaging that will lift spirits.What Slot did in winning the title and giving fans the best day many would’ve ever experienced should never be forgotten, but it was clear by the end of last season that he couldn’t continue, or at least not in the manner that had become established.Iraola is the refresh that was needed, and it feels fitting to give him the final word before he embarks on the biggest challenge yet in his career.“I would like to give them a team that they can feel proud of,” he said. I've experienced, I always say, the goal that [Federico] Chiesa scored in the first game of the past season, where you can feel this stadium – and I would love to have this every game we play.“And it has to come from us from inside the pitch and we have to be a team that works hard, [is] intense, aggressive, vertical so everyone can be identified, everyone can feel comfortable supporting this team.”