Adonia Iroala has spoken to journalists at the AXA Training Centre for the first time since becoming Liverpool head coach.
Andoni Iraola head coach of Liverpool during a press conference at AXA Training Centre
Andoni Iraola head coach of Liverpool during a press conference at AXA Training Centre(Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has explained why he has chosen to sign only a two-year deal after holding his first press conference in the role.
The former AFC Bournemouth boss took questions from journalists on Monday morning at the Reds' AXA Training Centre in Kirkby and it wasn't long before his surprising contract choice came under scrutiny.
Iraola, who has previous form for signing two-year deals throughout his managerial career, insisted that the length of a manager's contract wasn't important, and that it gave both himself and the club the opportunity to review that they were both happy with the existing arrangement.
The 44-year-old Spaniard said: "Two-year deals, coaching contracts don't matter a lot. I don't want to be in a place because of a contract. I sign year-to-year, basically. A lot of managers have long contracts but sometimes the club doesn't want it.
"As a player, it's important, but as a manager, it's not important. If you are happy, I am happy. I want to stay here a lot more years, it means I have done a very good job.
"But we have to earn it. Managers, I feel, have to earn every year the right to continue. Especially in clubs like Liverpool, but I've done it everywhere. I've done it always like this."
Iraola steered unfancied Bournemouth to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, helping the Cherries to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
An aggressive attacking playing style ensured that he succeeded Arne Slot in the Anfield hotseat and Liverpool fans can expect the very same approach to games from their new head coach next season.
Iraola said: "I think we have to be our core principles, lots of games, maybe you face low blocks, but I prefer that, we're in control, less chances conceding, these are the scenarios we want. Other teams don't give you that, they want to control, play in your half. I want to be on the opposition's half, creating chances.
"I think you have the advantage that you saw me for three years in the Premier League. Some know me better, but the people involved in football, they will know what we try to do.
"I understand this is Liverpool FC, we have to change some things, even tactically, but if they sign me it's because they want a lot of things I was doing at other clubs. So I don't want to change the DNA of my teams on the pitch. I try to be as natural as possible."
When asked about the uplift in workload at a club like the Reds, compared to Bournemouth, who were not competing in Europe, Iraola added: "I think it's a big challenge for me and a big change. Most weeks we have a midweek game, a great opportunity for the players.
"I loved these seasons as a player, playing a lot. A chance to use more players also, because it's impossible to deal with it with just a few players, we need the whole squad. Injuries will happen, we have to get ready in terms of squad depth.
"We can go through those months, December, January, they are very hard. We have to arrive with those situations."