After the Liverpool team arrived in Chicago, USA, Reds manager Iraola held a press conference and answered questions from reporters. The following is the second part of the press conference.
Andoni, there were many rumors about Alisson's future at the end of last season. Although you haven't spoken to him face-to-face yet, have you discussed the future with him? Are you sure he will still be Liverpool's goalkeeper next season and your first choice?
I am very happy with our current goalkeeper setup. We have Alisson, and we have Giorgi (Mamardashvili). Now we are going to loan out, for example, Armin (Pech), and these goalkeepers may be at other stages of their careers. But having these excellent goalkeepers as assurance – for various reasons, all three of them, including Fred (Woodman) who also played some games last season – I think this is a great assurance for us. After losing some experienced leaders in the locker room, Alisson will play a key role. He will definitely help new signings, new players, and young players integrate better here. We need veterans who have been with the team for a long time, like Van Dijk, Alisson, and Joe Gomez, as pillars, and I believe they will provide great support.
Andoni, we have seen in recent years that many players' form has been affected by long summers and international competitions, such as last year's Club World Cup. Are you confident that all players who participated in the World Cup will be available at the start of the new Premier League season? Do you need to plan carefully for them to ensure they can last through the entire long Premier League season?
Yes, ultimately, I think the trickiest situations are obviously Mac Allister and Víctor Muñoz, because they played until the very end of the tournament. So they deserve a vacation and rest. I hope they can have at least a little time with us for pre-season training, but it's true that this may have some impact on their form at the beginning of the new season. However, we cannot just look at the present and the first match against Newcastle. We must understand that especially players like Mac Allister, who played an extremely long time and had a huge physical load in the past season and the World Cup, fully deserve this rest period. However, I think all other players should be able to be in excellent physical condition for the first match.
Andoni, you just mentioned Conor (Bradley) and said he is still some time away from returning. Right-back was a rather tricky position last season, with frequent injuries and many different players filling in there. Is this a problem you want to solve through the transfer market, or do you think internal solutions can handle it?
I think a lot of it depends on Conor's situation. If we can have a fully recovered, fit Conor Bradley, we would certainly be very happy and put him straight in, so we wouldn't have to face these kinds of problems. The reason this is tricky is because in the long run we have a lot of faith in Conor, and we want him to be our starting right-back, but right now he is indeed some time away from returning. Therefore, due to the current injuries at center-back and right-back, our defensive depth is very thin, and we are actively looking for solutions.
One last question, Andoni. I want to ask about Szoboszlai's future at the club, do you think he has the potential to be a captain in the future, or take on a leadership role in the team?
I think this is one of the best pieces of news since I arrived – his loyalty to the club, his contract extension, and his excellent physical condition. He leads by example in training and gives his all. I think young players should learn from him and see how he trains and competes. There is no doubt that he will be one of our future leaders. I look forward to him playing a role in my squad, and I will try my best to use him in the best way possible, help him play more freely, and ensure he continues his excellent form, because I think his performance last season was already very good, and if possible, we even hope to help him go further.
Andoni, extending on this topic. Regarding the vice-captain position, have you considered Szoboszlai for it, or will you address this later in pre-season?
Yes, I will address it, because I haven't even met nearly half the team yet. As you know, I haven't spoken to them face-to-face. So I think the decision will be made once everyone is together. But I always say, you don't need to wear an armband to be a leader, to be a captain. I understand that in England, the captain's armband has a very special meaning and a rich history, but I have met many excellent leaders and captains who don't wear an armband. It's nice to wear an armband for a photo, but even without it, you can still lead the team and be an influential player. The captain should not be limited to just one or two people wearing armbands; we need many captain roles on the field, and the more the better. So, regardless of the final decision about the captain's armband, many players will still play their leadership roles on the field.
Andoni, I want to verify, how much truth is there to the rumors about Spanish clubs being interested in Alexis Mac Allister? Can I assume he is an indispensable player in your tactics for the new season?
I think Alexis is one of the best players at the club in recent years, and he also performed extremely well in the World Cup, so it's very normal for other clubs to target our core players, which happens in every transfer window. However, like other clubs, I am equally eager to keep the best players in the team. Compared to losing existing key players, I am obviously more looking forward to the club signing strong new additions now.
Hello, coach. Speaking of Spain, I know there will be five Spanish head coaches in the Premier League this season, and you and Xavi Alonso are also friends. What is it like to compete against him on the field as an opponent? Also, I know Mikel Arteta is also from the same Basque region as you?
Yes, both of them are very good friends of mine. We have known each other since we were seven or eight years old, and we even played on the same team. Therefore, it is an honor to compete with them on the field. They are both excellent head coaches, and the competition will certainly be very fierce. But I think for all of us, this is a very wonderful thing. Since we are all now striving for our respective top clubs, our daily communication may not be as frequent as before. Everyone has their own path and responsibilities, but for me, it is a great pleasure to compete with coaches whom I consider close friends.
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Topclass23749
7
He is smart