Andoni Iraola has described Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the USA as “really, really useful” as preparations for the 2026-27 campaign continue.
The Reds conclude their stay in the United States with a friendly against Leeds United in Chicago on Sunday, having already recorded victories over Sunderland (4-2) and Wrexham (1-0).
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Andoni Iraola reflected on the team’s progress, the players’ adaptation to his methods, and the impressive performances of several younger squad members during the tour.
The Liverpool head coach also praised the impact of his coaching staff, including Reds supporter Tommy Elphick and new goalkeeping coach Alejandro Rosalen.
Can we begin with how you’ve found it? How has the last couple of weeks been for you in terms of the information you’ve been able to get to the players and what they’ve been able to showcase to you?
I think it has been really, really useful. Obviously, you spend a lot of time with the players, with the staff, you get all the information you can. And I think there is also an evolution, it has to be. We start to understand each other better, what we need to do. Every game, I hope we can get closer and closer and put ourselves in a position where the few players that still are not here start to train also, they are helped by the others.
Is there something in particular you’ve been really happy with? Is there one thing you can put your finger on and say that’s been the best thing that we’ve maybe managed here?
Probably the performance of the young players. At the end, we’ve had most of the players coming from the U21s, from the Academy, and they’ve performed really well against Premier League opposition, very good players – winning duels, helping us also in the collective idea. I think it probably has been the best, I wouldn’t say surprise but at least the confirmation.
You said that from the very start, that the young players, you were really looking forward to having a look at. Clearly from what you say, they’ve done well. You have the decision to make now as to whether they stay part of your first team or they go somewhere else, U21s or maybe on loan…
Yes, different scenarios. Some of them are going to return to the U21s, some of them will go on loan, and some of them will stay with us because I think we will need them during the season. They’ve shown me that they have the level, they can give us quality minutes, a good level in training and I’m sure some of them will stay with us, yes.
It has also been an opportunity for you to spend more time with your coaches. Can you tell us a bit more about them? Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick were coaches at Bournemouth when you arrived but clearly you felt something straight away, that you were going to be together for a long time?
Yes, for me, Tommy and Shaun are very valuable because they have been English players, they’ve played in the Premier League, the Championship, League One; they understand the culture, they understand what the players are thinking. And they’ve gone through the process of understanding how to build a team, because we didn’t know each other when I arrived at Bournemouth and they have seen all the process during these three years where we’ve been evolving, we’ve been adding different things.
So now, I think they are the best ones to transmit the same thing to the players and to the new coaches, that we already had in the club. They are helping me a lot. I think they are sometimes in more touch with the players than me because always with the manager there is a little bit of more distance, I think the players are more comfortable sometimes with the assistants. They know also when to filter the information – when I need to know things. Sometimes they don’t tell me the things that for sure stay between them and the players. They are brilliant in this.
And Tommy is a Liverpool fan as well, which makes this extra-special for him…
Tommy, I tell him, he is living his dream. I think he had this summer a chance to coach in the Championship. Good clubs called him, but I think he couldn’t miss this because he’s been a big Liverpool fan. We were talking the other day, meeting with the legends we have here, with Robbie Fowler, Ian Rush – he was like, ‘Oof, this is big.’ I like how he is feeling it and I think it’s very nice for him, yes.
Alejandro Rosalen is your new goalkeeping coach. What is the link there? What can he bring to the set-up?
I didn’t know him personally, we’ve gone through a process led from the club, from the goalkeeping department, and we’ve decided he was the right guy. He has loads of experience, a lot of years at Fiorentina, a lot of years in Napoli with some of the best coaches. He’s won the [Serie A title]. And also I’ve loved the personality once I could meet him and interview him. I liked a lot of the things. He brings good energy. I think he’s going to be a good help for our ’keepers. He’s doing really well, yes.