Iraola: The Connection with Fans is Our Greatest Strength

Liverpool's new manager, Andoni Iraola, has been hard at work on the training ground for several days, preparing the squad for the upcoming season. The Spaniard acknowledges the high expectations at Anfield but insists he is ready for the challenge.

"The first match at Anfield will be emotional. The connection with the fans is our greatest strength, but it starts on the pitch. We need to be a team they can be proud of. We have a huge advantage thanks to the atmosphere created at Anfield, and I want to build upon that," he stated.

Iraola admitted that Mohamed Salah would be incredibly difficult to replace. He shared that the club is looking for a successor, but one who might possess different characteristics. "This is a big challenge. We can't bring in a winger who is just like Salah, because that would set them up for failure. We need someone in that area, but likely with different skills, helping the team in another way. We are definitely working on bringing in a player to replace Salah," the specialist commented.

"Many experienced players who achieved everything have left. We need other players to replace them and take on their responsibilities. Some of the current players also need to raise their game. Some players – Ekitike, Bradley, Leoni, among others – have minor issues and are not part of the pre-season preparations. It's not an ideal situation, but that's football; you have to adapt," he added.

When asked what would constitute success for him in his first season at Anfield, Iraola replied: "I can't say. You will evaluate the team when the season ends. I know what the expectations are here, but my focus is on building a team. To meet those expectations, we need to maximize every player we have, find ways to make them even better, and build a collective that can bring us trophies."

The former Bournemouth manager also spoke about the two new signings, Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz: "Jeremy is a player I knew very well even before he signed with Liverpool. He is still very young but possesses all the necessary qualities we need for that position. He had a shoulder injury but is fully recovered. Victor is also a player I know very well. He can play on both wings. He is humble but ambitious. I think he will be a very good addition for us."