Andoni Iraola walked into the AXA Training Centre media room and didn’t sugarcoat it. Two signings in. More needed. The squad faded hard last season and everyone inside the building knows it.
This was Iraola’s first real press conference as Liverpool head coach and he used it to level with supporters. No corporate spin. No vague promises about trusting the process. Just a straight read on where things stand.
“We’ve signed two players already. We need more. We know this,” Iraola said. “We are working on this. As a coach I want the players here from day one, selfishly. But we know it doesn’t work like this. We’re working hard for those signings.”
That last part is the kind of honesty that tends to play well with a fanbase that watched last season slip away. Liverpool ran out of gas. The squad lacked depth. Opponents figured out how to press them into mistakes late in games. The new manager inherits a team that needs reinforcing, not just tactical tweaks.
Pre-season reality check
The first week back on grass is always a mix of optimism and hard truths. Senior players are filtering in now. Joe Gomez, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas are among those returning as the training schedule ramps up.
Iraola has been working the phones too. He made it clear he’s already building relationships, both with players and the staff around the club. He said he spoke with some players during the World Cup but tried not to interrupt their focus while the tournament was still running. Once they were eliminated, he reached out. He’s also been talking to the people who work at the training ground every day.
“They create a good environment so our players can perform to the maximum,” Iraola said. That kind of stuff matters more than people realize. A new manager who pays attention to the support staff tends to get a smoother runway.
The market is still moving
Liverpool are not done shopping. The expectation around the club is that things pick up once the World Cup ends and more players become available. Recruitment is a messy business in a summer with a major tournament on the calendar. Deals that looked close in May stalled in June. That happens.
Iraola confirmed he’s involved in the process. “I’m obviously trying to help also,” he said. That’s not just a coach being polite. He has clear input on what profiles he wants. The front office knows that getting this window right is critical. Liverpool can’t afford another season where the bench doesn’t have answers.
For now, the message is simple. Liverpool are still working. Iraola is fully in the mix. And the squad, as it stands, is not finished.
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