Iraola: Sometimes assistant coaches interact more with players than I do, players prefer talking to them

With only three weeks remaining until the start of the 2026-27 season, head coach Iraola spoke to Liverpoolfc.com, reflecting on the team's pre-season progress.

Liverpool will conclude their US tour with a match against Leeds United in Chicago on Sunday local time. Previously, the Reds defeated Sunderland 4-2 and Wrexham 1-0.

Iraola discussed how the players are gradually adapting to his tactical philosophy and particularly praised the impressive performances of the young players. He also spoke about the important role of the coaching staff, including Liverpool fan Tommy Elphick and new goalkeeping coach Alejandro Rosalen.

Let's start with the overall picture. How do you feel about this pre-season preparation? Over the past few weeks, you've conveyed a lot of information to the players, and they've had the opportunity to show you what they can do. What are your thoughts on this period?

I think this period has been incredibly, incredibly valuable. Obviously, you spend a lot of time with the players and coaching staff, trying to gather all the information you can. I think the team has also been continuously improving, which is something that has to happen. We're starting to understand each other better and have a clearer idea of what we need to do. I hope that with every game we play, we can take another step forward and get closer to our ideal state. At the same time, I hope that those players who haven't joined us yet can start training as soon as possible and integrate into the team with the help of their teammates.

Is there any one aspect that you're particularly pleased with? Is there anything you can pinpoint as the biggest takeaway for the team so far?

I think it has to be the performance of the young players. After all, many players from the U21 squad and academy have joined us, and they've performed exceptionally well against Premier League-level opponents. They've been able to win physical battles against good players and have also helped the team implement the overall tactical philosophy very well. I wouldn't say it's a surprise, but at least it proves they truly have that capability.

Since you first arrived at the club, you've always said you were looking forward to seeing what these young players could do. From your assessment, they've indeed done very well. Next, you'll also need to decide their future development path: whether to stay with the first team, return to the U21s, or go out on loan for experience.

Yes, everyone's situation is different. Some players will go back to the U21 squad, some will be loaned out, and some will continue to stay with us because I believe we'll need them throughout the season. They've shown me that they're at this level, capable of contributing quality minutes in games and maintaining a high standard in training. I'm confident that some of them will remain with the first team.

During this time, you've also had the opportunity to communicate more with the coaching staff. Could you tell us about them? When you first arrived at Bournemouth, Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick were already on the coaching staff, but clearly, you quickly realized that you'd be working together for a long time.

Yes. For me, Tommy and Shaun are both very important because they were both English players who played in the Premier League, Championship, and League One. They understand the football culture here and know what the players are thinking. More importantly, they experienced the entire team-building process firsthand. When I first arrived at Bournemouth, we didn't know each other, but they witnessed the entire process of the team growing, improving, and adding new elements step by step over the past three years.

So now, I think they are the best people to convey these ideas to the players and to the existing new coaches at the club. They've been a huge help to me. Sometimes, they interact with the players even more than I do. After all, as the head coach, there's always a bit of distance between me and the players, and players sometimes prefer to talk to assistant coaches.

They also know when to relay information to me and when to filter it for me. There are some things they choose to keep between themselves and the players, and they might not necessarily tell me. They do a fantastic job with that.

And Tommy is also a Liverpool fan, which must hold special meaning for him.

I always tell him that he's living his dream now. I know he had opportunities to coach in the Championship this summer; a few good clubs contacted him. But I think there's no way he could turn down this opportunity because he's always been a loyal Liverpool fan. The other day, we met club legends like Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush, and he kept saying, "Wow, this is incredible." I love the way he enjoys all of this; I think it truly means a lot to him.

Alejandro Rosalen is your new goalkeeping coach. What is your connection with him? What can he bring to the team?

I didn't know him before. This recruitment was led by the club, and the goalkeeping department managed the entire selection process. Ultimately, we all agreed he was the best candidate. He has extensive experience, having worked in Florence for many years and Naples for many years, assisting some world-class head coaches and winning Serie A titles. After meeting him and interviewing him, I also really liked his personality. There's a lot I admire about him, and he brings positive energy to the team. I believe he will be a great help to our goalkeepers. So far, he's done an excellent job.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com