**Andoni Iraola** expressed his excitement for the **Champions League** campaign with Liverpool.
The _Reds_ finished top of the league phase in their first season with **Arne Slot**, but luck of the draw meant they pulled out **Paris Saint-Germain** in their Round of 16 tie. Their opponents truly started to show what was to come in the 18 months, eliminating the to-be **Premier League** champions at **Anfield**.
A shakier second season under Slot
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Slot oversaw a shakier second season in the dugout, but his men still managed to finish in the top eight of the league phase last campaign. A **4-0 second leg victory** overturned a one-goal deficit against **Galatasaray** in the Round of 16, but PSG were once more their nemesis in the quarterfinals.
‘It will show us a little bit also where we are’
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Now, Iraola is tasked with **Champions League** competition for the first time in his coaching career.
His men will be feeling better about themselves after [beating **Ipswich Town** 2-0 on Friday evening](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/09/04/premier-league/1270162-ipswich-town-0-2-liverpool-alexander-isak-brace-gives-reds-first-win-of-the-season.html), and the Basque boss believes that this challenge can help the team gauge their level at the moment.
_“It's one of the dreams, probably, when you start. It was difficult when I started my coaching career seven, eight years ago, to position myself in the position that I am right now, and I hope I can enjoy it._
_“It's a big responsibility, massive challenge, but I feel privileged to be there in that dugout tomorrow and now my thinking is about putting the team together in a position where we can play a good game, win the game and start strong in this_ **_Champions League_**_._
_“I think last Friday it was first of all about winning because we had this bad taste after two draws and we needed the win, definitely. But also, I think I was encouraged because I saw very good performances from some individual players, I saw the team starting a lot stronger the game with a lot more intensity, especially in the first half, and I think it's the line that we want to continue._
‘It's a massive test for the team’
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_“I think it's a_ **_Champions League_** _game, it's the first game against probably one of the strongest opposition that we are going to face, but at the end it is football. We play against very good teams also in the_ **_Premier League_**_. I think I kind of know quite well_ **_Atletico Madrid_**_, some of their players._
_“It's going to be a big test - but it was going to even if I wasn't the manager \[because\] it's the first game in the_ **_Champions League_** _against another big club. It's a great game to play, it's a massive test for the team overall and I think it will show us a little bit also where we are. We showed last Friday good signs and now let's see against a team like_ **_Atletico Madrid_** _where we are.”_