Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, asked whether he sees Harvey Elliott's future at Liverpool:

"Definitely. Harvey is here with us. I've seen him with this eagerness of showing himself and getting himself ready again. He will have a chance during pre season. We will need him.

"It's a good sign, he came one week earlier, he has been training with the under 21s. I hope we can see him in a good place.

"Last season had to be very difficult for him. It was a strange situation where they couldn't even put him to play. And I think he uses this, the bad situation he has experienced, to make him even more eager to be a Liverpool player."

Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola on how much the World Cup will impact his ability to learn about his new players:

"I think it is what it is, we cannot change it. Players deserve a break. Once they have been in the World Cup, they deserve their three weeks so they can enjoy time with friends, family, think of other things - physically, they need a rest after a very busy season.

"I think I'm looking at the positives. I've had now one week to see every training from the under 21s. We've had some players from the first team willing to come a little bit before, they are already in a better shape to start. Already today, they didn't have to come, I've seen two or three that I haven't seen before they are already here, ready for the testing tomorrow.

"I think this progressive introduction also will allow me to get more in touch with every player.

"It will also give especially the young players, some players who have been on loan, more minutes during pre-season. The first part of pre-season is going to be with a lot of players from the academy, players that in other situations maybe I wouldn't know as well, and now I will have the chance to get to know personally, training every day with them, in some friendlies, and it's going to be good information for me."

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

What does the next month or so look like for Andoni Iraola and Liverpool?

After the in-person introductions, one of the first things that will happen will be the individual assessments for the players on their return before the hard work begins.

The key focus will be playing a front-foot and aggressive style of football and there will inevitably be changes, with a revamped backroom staff, in terms of how things work. Iraola will be joined by Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper - who were with him at Bournemouth - as his first-team coaches.

If their time at Bournemouth is anything to go by, there will be intense running in the early days and the Spaniard is known to play an active part in drills.

He often referees in mini-training games.

"Get really aggressive. Get used to this, because we will do this every week..." is one of many lines that stands out, in a clip where his enthusiasm and passion is clear to see.

"Andoni likes to take all of the sessions and be in the thick of it as opposed to leaving it to others," a Bournemouth source told BBC Sport last month.

Pablo de la Torre, who will join Iraola as an assistant coach, has worked with him previously in Cyprus, at Rayo Vallecano and at Bournemouth. The Spaniard is trusted by Iraola and will play a major role in ensuring Liverpool's players are physically ready for playing the brand of football for which he is known.

Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola on his assessment of the squad he's inherited and whether he's had a chance to look at how things didn't go right last season:

"Obviously I talk to the players, the staff, I talked about the things are working really well, the things that we can do differently - I wouldn't say better, but differently. I think it's different.

"I have the advantage that probably players already know what we are going to demand in terms of style of play, but we will have time to know each other.

"One thing is to know a player, talk to a player, ask him, 'Where do you feel more comfortable? In this position? In this other one? Where do you see yourself?' I am asking the players these questions so I can understand them.

"But after I will see them train, I will make some tests, I will feel things, then I will take decisions from there."

That's all from Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola. We will continue to bring you the full quotes from his first Liverpool news conference.

What did you make of his first news conference as Liverpool boss? Let us know your thoughts via the 'Get Involved' button.

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"I think it is a big challenge for me, it will be a big change but a great opportunity," Iraola said about having a busier schedule, including midweek Champions League games.

Andoni Iraola is next asked about why he signs two-year contracts.

"As managers, we have to earn the right to continue".

Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, asked if he understand what it means to be Liverpool manager:

"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.

"I understand that this is a massive club, everything that I'm going to say now is going to 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, we were talking to Tony now, 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."

"We have to replace very important players [who have left]." Andoni says.

He added that the club will need to "find solutions" for players with long-term injuries.

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether he has spoken to Arne Slot about what happened last season, or Virgil van Dijk and Alisson (who each have less than 12 months on their contracts):

"I've spoken, especially with all the players who have been in the World Cup, especially the ones that have already been eliminated and are enjoying their holidays. I didn't want to bother them while the World Cup was ongoing, but I've had very good conversations.

"I'm also using this couple of weeks before we start properly first team training to talk with a lot of people around that work every day here. Those are the ones that are helping me, create a good environment so our players can perform and, let's say, we can maximise their abilities."

The next lot of questions is about himself, "you will have to be yourself and I will try to be.. I will try not to change".

He was next asked to describe himself but instead he says that we have seen him before, as a Bournemouth manager.

Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola on what the team needs in terms of reinforcements:

"Obviously we've signed two players already but we need more players. We know this. The club is working on this.

"Me, as a coach, selfishly, you want the players here on day one, ready to train for pre-season.

"But we understand that football doesn't work like this and I know that the club is working hard to get those signings and I am trying to help also."

On Harvey Elliott, Iraola said: "Definitely, Harvey is here with us right now. He's shown eagerness to get himself ready.

"He will have a chance in pre-season."

Iraola added that Elliott has returned early and has been training with the under-21s.

Image source, Getty Images

"We will have time to know each other" Iraola says about getting to know his squad.

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, asked what his message is to Reds fans on taking on the job:

"Great question. I would like to give them a team that they can be proud of.

"Football, especially Liverpool, for me is about connecting. Connecting with the people, connecting with supporters.

"I've been on the other side, at Anfield. I've experienced... I always say, the first goal that [Federico] Chiesa scored in the first game of the last season, phwoar! You can feel the stadium. And I would love to have this every game we play. It has to come from us, from inside the pitch.

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

Andoni Iraola is next asked about whether he understands what it feels like to be a Liverpool manager.

"I understand, this is a massive club" is his reply.

"I am not going to live in my bubble" Iraola adds and says he would like to explore the city.

"I have spoken to the players that have been at the World Cup" Iraola said and adds he's had good conversations with his Liverpool players.