Andoni Iraola is known for keeping his post-match opinions to himself, waiting 24 hours before addressing his Liverpool squad - a method that faces a huge test after Sunday's defeat to Manchester City
Liverpool v Manchester City - Premier League 2026/27
Andoni Iraola has an unusual method of communicating with his players(Image: Getty)
Andoni Iraola has experienced a mixed beginning to his tenure as Liverpool manager. Brought in during the summer to succeed Premier League champion Arne Slot, Iraola navigated a challenging transfer window for the Reds .
While Bradley Barcola and Jeremy Jacquet represented substantial outlays, there were concerns that Liverpool remained understrength in certain positions, particularly in midfield. Unable to rectify this until the January transfer window opens at the earliest, Iraola must find solutions to these issues.
However, beyond tactical considerations, Iraola is recognised for some unconventional approaches. It comes as the Reds were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, with the Premier League urged to act quickly.
One such method reportedly concerns how he interacts with players, or more accurately doesn't, in the immediate wake of fixtures. While numerous managers have been known to lose their temper in the changing room following a poor performance, or lavish praise upon their charges when things go well, Iraola operates differently.
According to Express Sport, those who have observed the Basque boss at close quarters have claimed Iraola maintains his composure. Indeed, he remains deliberately quiet, with the former Bournemouth chief choosing to withhold his immediate post-match thoughts.
The Daily Mail reports that Iraola frequently does NOT address his players after the final whistle and instead waits 24 hours before speaking to the squad at the training facility.
The strategy is unconventional, but the reasoning behind this approach is to allow emotions to settle before he delivers his assessment. It enables Iraola to remain level-headed and permits him to engage with his squad in a controlled manner.
What effect does that have on the players, though?
Liverpool v Manchester City - Premier League 2026/27
Andoni Iraola may dish out praise on the field but doesn't speak for 24 hours after a game(Image: Getty)
Well, that's likely to vary depending on the circumstances. But one thing is certain, it leaves the squad pondering their manager's assessment of the display for rather longer than is conventional.
That strategy will face scrutiny following Sunday's devastating home defeat to Manchester City. The Merseyside side were competing fiercely against their opponents before Ryan Gravenberch received his marching orders midway through the second period for a second caution.
Reduced to 10 men, Liverpool proved unable to contain the blistering City offensive. First, Erling Haaland struck, then Jeremy Doku and finally Rayan Cherki.
Numerical disadvantage or not, Liverpool appeared fragile in their efforts to keep City at bay, and this could prove a result that shakes the belief within the camp.
Naturally, Iraola does address the media following each fixture, and he told BBC Sport at Anfield : "I think the first part is that we played two different games. One until the red card, and then after. For 60 minutes, the players were very good. The second game from the red card was where City were better than us.
"We conceded very little in the first half. We did a really good job. The second half, we were translating into chances. You learn a lot in games like today. I am very proud of my players. They put the work rate and everything in today. It's a loss and we didn't get anything from the performance but I liked it a lot."
Liverpool turn their attention to Champions League football in midweek as they make the journey to Austria to take on LASK. Following that, they face a potentially challenging away fixture against Brentford in the Premier League.