Why what Andoni Iraola said about our city and connection matters
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The new head coach's response showed why he can fix Liverpool's fractured holy trinity: players, manager and supportersAndoni Iraola's first words to the press after becoming the new Liverpool head coach will have been music to supporters' ears. Asked for his message to the fans, Iraola's reply laid plain his understanding of the responsibility of leading not only English football's most successful club, but a city desperate for a team that represents its values."I would like to give them a team that they can feel proud of," Iraola said.
The looming loss of leaders in Salah and Andy Robertson only increased concerns that the current squad lacked character, and out-of-touch social media posts from certain players after galling results didn't help either.For all of the credit he rightly earned from lifting the Premier League title in his first season and handling Jota's death with dignity and compassion, Slot was ultimately the wrong personality to mend the cracks that had started to appear.Like most, if not all, of his players, Slot lived outside of the city during his time at the helm, and this only further contributed to the perception amongst supporters that he lacked a proper understanding of what made Liverpool and the club's fans tick.His refusal to properly criticise Gabriel Martinelli for the petulant shove on Conor Bradley - when the Liverpool defender was rolling in agony with what was clearly a serious knee injury - was indicative of Slot's reluctance to act as a representative for Liverpool supporters in his media appearances, and the detached impression he often gave.Writing for The Athletic after Slot's exit in May, Simon Hughes reflected on this moment. But Klopp - the self-described 'normal one' - understood the value of appearances intuitively, and seemed to genuinely enjoy the casual interactions he had with supporters when dining out or drinking at his local pub in Formby.Iraola is no fool, and must have known what he was evoking when he was asked if he understood what it means to be Liverpool manager:"I want to think I understand.
We were talking to Tony [Barrett - Liverpool's head of club and supporter liaison] now - I am not going to live in my bubble, just training ground, home."I would also like to go to the city, exploring the city. I know some places I will have to take some pictures - but it's part of the magic, no, of being the Liverpool manager?"I would like not to change too much."Iraola comes across as a quiet man, more of a thoughtful communicator than a grandstander, but he speaks from the heart and Liverpool fans will appreciate this if he stays true to himself.Rediscovering identityLiverpool supporters, even more than those of most other clubs, need to feel understood - like they have a manager who 'gets it'.