Andoni Iraola ready to embrace Liverpool’s ‘magic’

The former Bournemouth boss will officially start pre-season on Tuesday, although with only a handful of senior players due to the World Cup impacting the return schedules of the majority of his squad.

He accepts he will only grasp how big the step up is from the Cherries once he has fully embraced everything which comes with being in the Anfield hot seat, which includes finding out about the city as well as the club.

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But he has vowed not to change despite it being the biggest challenge in his football career.

“I want to think I understand. Probably not until you are here and until you go through certain experiences, I will not fully know but I am here to experience those situations, I am ready for it,” he told his first press conference.

“I understand that this is a massive club, everything that I’m going to say now is going to have the biggest scrutiny, you have to be very aware of the mistakes.

“But I wouldn’t like to be too careful. I would like to act quite normal, I’m not going to live in my bubble – just training ground, home. I would like to go to the city, experience the city, I know some places, I will have to take some pictures.

“But it’s part also of the magic of being the Liverpool manager. I would like not to change too much.”

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Iraola takes over from Arne Slot, who was sacked a year after winning the title after supporters turned against him following a disappointing season which saw Liverpool finish fifth.

Asked about his message to fans, Iraola added: “I would like to give them a team that they can feel proud of.

“I think football – and especially Liverpool – is about connecting: connecting with the people, connecting with our supporters.

“We have to be a team that works hard – intense, aggressive, so everyone can be identified and everyone can feel comfortable supporting this team.”