Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has explained his verdict on Andoni Iraola, outlining his Jurgen Klopp hope about the Merseyside club in the seasons that follow
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has offered his opinion
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has offered his opinion(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher says it was probably the right call to replace Arne Slot at the start of the summer — but only because of the results and fan sentiment, rather than his style of play.
Liverpool has shifted back toward a more exciting brand of football with the appointment of Andoni Iraola, but the pressure will be on to deliver more wins, and quickly.
"This idea that Liverpool love this style of football because of Jurgen Klopp... no, no, no. Every fan loves that style of football," Carragher told The Football Ramble podcast. "I hope we don't become the kind of club that says, 'Klopp played this style of football, so we have to get a manager like that.' No, no, no.
"Arne Slot was more controlled and passive, but he didn't lose his job because of style. He lost it because of results. If he had challenged for the league and won a domestic cup, then he would still be in a job.
"Every style can win and lose. Iraola's style is exciting, yes. But if you lose, you're saying, 'We're wide open, we're getting done on the counterattack.'
"Pep Guardiola or Slot's style of football, when it doesn't work, it's slow and ponderous. There's good and bad."
Iraola has made a promising start to life at Liverpool, though there is plenty more work to be done in the remaining weeks of the transfer market.
Andoni Iraola is aiming to turn things around at Liverpool
Andoni Iraola is aiming to turn things around at Liverpool(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"It probably was right that Slot went in the end because it was so negative against him," Carragher continued. "I think there would be no buzz coming into this season, but I do feel for him, and I think the players let him down last season.
"But in terms of Iraola, I look at it and I can't change my opinion. I am behind the manager, and I want him to do amazing. But I said something when he was linked with Chelsea: you can't not fall in love with that style of football when the players are running everywhere and giving everything.
"I was talking about Chelsea needing something to get behind, but it almost feels to me when you make the jump from a mid-table Premier League team to a team competing in Europe, it almost feels to me like I would have loved Iraola to have had a bridge in between.
"Win the Europa League somewhere. A little bit like Klopp at Dortmund. Klopp won the Bundesliga and got to the Champions League final. It almost feels like (with Iraola) we've got the Rafa (Benitez) from Tenerife or the Klopp from Mainz.
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"That's not a criticism, and it doesn't mean it won't work, but in an ideal world, I would have loved Iraola to have had a couple of European campaigns, won a trophy, and been in a cup final. He will make mistakes because he hasn't managed a European campaign. How does he rotate? Does he rotate on a Saturday after an away game on a Wednesday? Does he stay with the team?
"Does he come straight back after a game? These are things I remember as a player that players will compain about to the staff, and if you haven't really had that before, you are learning on the job about those little details.
"And right now, I feel for him because he doesn't have the squad he needs to compete, and also Richard Hughes, the sporting director who knows him from Bournemouth, is leaving when the window is over. I hope he gets the help he needs."