Andoni Iraola has explained the major challenge Ronald Araujo is currently facing at Liverpool
Ronald Araujo - Imago
Liverpool return to Premier League action on Saturday, hosting Fulham at Anfield in a fixture that arrives with real momentum behind Andoni Iraola’s side.
The Reds head into the weekend off the back of a dramatic 2-1 Champions League comeback win over Atletico Madrid, a result that followed their first league victory of the season, 2-0 away at Ipswich Town.
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Fulham travel to Merseyside in contrasting form. Alvaro Arbeloa’s side have lost all three of their opening Premier League matches, most recently a 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace, and remain one of only two clubs yet to register a point this season.
Liverpool have won seven of their last nine meetings with the Cottagers at home.
Ahead of the game, Iraola addressed his squad’s build-up in his pre-match press conference, and one topic centred on the continued development of on-loan Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
Speaking about the Uruguayan’s adaptation to life at Anfield, Iraola said language, not football, remains his biggest hurdle.
“Ronald is used to playing big games, playing in Champions League, fighting for titles and playing for a big club,” he said.
“For him the bigger challenge is the language, he doesn’t speak English.”
The Liverpool manager added that Araujo has leaned on team-mates to help him settle in.
“But he has good help inside the changing room,” Iraola said.
“This change mentally has helped him a lot. He had a lot of years at Barca and needed this kind of change.”
Iraola pointed to Araujo’s form as evidence the move has worked. “It helps that performance wise he has been playing very well,” he said.
The Liverpool boss also referenced the centre-back’s recent role from the bench.
“It’s difficult to come into the game as a centre-back from the bench but did a good job against Newcastle and Forest,” he said.
Araujo has featured in an unfamiliar role for Liverpool, filling in at right-back rather than his customary centre-back position. Iraola acknowledged the adjustment.
“When he’s had a position to start in maybe not his main position, he has done well,” he said.
The defender started at right-back in Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Ipswich and again in the Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, ahead of Jeremie Frimpong in the side.
Liverpool will be looking to make it back-to-back Premier League wins when Fulham visit Anfield, with Iraola’s comments underlining the balance between Araujo’s on-field application and the off-field challenges still facing him.
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