I want to give fans a Liverpool team to be proud of - Iraola

Andoni Iraola has stated his ambition to give Liverpool fans "a team they can be proud of" following his appointment as manager. The 44-year-old, who signed a two-year deal with Liverpool last month after three successful seasons at Bournemouth, acknowledged the need to connect with supporters and inspire the Anfield crowd. "I think football and especially Liverpool is about connecting - connecting with the people, connecting with our supporters," he said at his first media conference. Iraola emphasized the need for his team to be intense, aggressive, and vertical so that everyone can identify with and support the team. Iraola expressed confidence in his readiness for the challenge of managing one of the world's biggest clubs, stating he wants to experience the city and not live in a bubble. He addressed his shorter-than-usual two-year contract, noting that he feels managers must earn the right to continue every year. Iraola has already spoken to most of the Liverpool players and reported having "very good conversations," with the majority of the first-team squad set to return to Merseyside on Tuesday.