Iraola urges Liverpool forwards to ‘exhaust themselves’ ahead of first Anfield home game
Andoni Iraola told Liverpool’s forwards they should “exhaust themselves” rather than try to produce 90 minutes of performance as he prepares to take charge of his first Premier League home game at Anfield on Saturday. The head coach said using attacking players in shorter, high-intensity spells will allow substitutes to make an impact.
Iraola said the arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain and the expected addition of another winger before Tuesday’s transfer deadline should strengthen Liverpool’s attacking options, but noted that only Victor Muñoz has been added to the forward line so far. Muñoz was signed for £34.5m from Osasuna on Iraola’s recommendation and missed the opening weeks of pre-season while recuperating from Spain’s victorious World Cup campaign.
“For me, wingers, forwards, I always tell them that they don’t need to give us 90 minutes. I tell them it is good news when they are exhausted because then we have taken everything from you and someone else will come in. We have the situation now with Jérémy [Jacquet], who hasn’t had a proper pre-season but he is close to getting there. But normally defenders can last 90 minutes easier. For offensive players, it’s not mandatory that you play the whole game. Once you are done, we can change you. I think it’s the best way, and they all have to understand it like this.”
Iraola said Muñoz was “ready to start games” and pointed to his substitute appearance at Newcastle last weekend as evidence of his immediate impact. “I had never coached against Victor because he made his debut in La Liga when I was already here in the Premier League but I had very good references of him,” Iraola said. “The club put his name [to me] and we started to analyse his game. We all liked what he gives us. It’s early for him in terms of him not being able to speak the language, and he needs to get a better relationship with teammates, but I like his attitude. He works very hard. He is ready to play right side, left side, and he impacted the game the other day. The subs all played very well.”
Iraola confirmed Jérémy [Jacquet] has not completed a full pre-season but added that the defender is close to full fitness and available to contribute. He contrasted the endurance expectations between defenders and attackers, reiterating that offensive players will be rotated when their levels drop.
Iraola said his wife and two young children will attend the match at Anfield, and that the club’s new vice-chair, Amit Bhatia, will also be present for his first home appearance. “My wife never normally comes to my games,” he said. “But now she is starting to go because my kids want to go. The kids are starting to understand football a little bit and they will sometimes go. Not all the time, but they will be there for the first game because the timing is very good. I think there will be an emotional part that is going to be probably only for me. I know it’s my first game but I will not be trying to think too much about those things. Probably when the game finishes, and if it finishes well, then I will be more thinking of myself.”
Iraola will lead Liverpool in his first competitive home match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.