Jamie Carragher raises Iraola ‘red flag’ as Liverpool told of mistake | Football | Sport
Jamie Carragher voiced his concerns about Andoni Iraola. (Image: The Overlap)
Jamie Carragher has outlined his reservations about Liverpool appointing Andoni Iraola as the club’s next manager. The Reds chose to part ways with Arne Slot at the weekend following a dismal second season at the helm at Anfield. Slot steered Liverpool to fifth place in the Premier League, sufficient to secure Champions League football, but the Reds accumulated just 60 points – a stark drop of 24 from the previous campaign in which they claimed the title.
Iraola has swiftly emerged as the frontrunner to take charge at Anfield, with the Reds expected to enter into formal discussions with the 43-year-old’s representatives this week. Carragher has now weighed in on the prospect of Iraola taking the reins at Liverpool, setting out precisely why he harbours doubts over such a move.
“We watch Iraola every week, no one can say you don’t love watching Bournemouth play,” Carragher said on The Overlap’s Fan Debate. “If Bournemouth are on the TV, you watch them. You think we’re going to watch a good game.”
“I said this last season, we were talking about the Chelsea manager and it was on a Monday Night Football.
“We were looking at Chelsea’s options and Iraola was there, and I actually made the point – so I can’t go back on it – I said I think Iraola is making a mistake leaving Bournemouth.
“Because the next thing he needs to prove is he can manage a European season.
“What he asks of his players physically, and when you’re in Europe, you’ve got to rotate, so all of these things come into it.
“I thought that would be the next step for him, just to prove he could still produce the goods in a European season and then he’d get his move to his next club.”
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Andoni Iraola is set to replace Arne Slot. (Image: PA)
Carragher proceeded to outline the contrasts that Iraola might encounter as Liverpool manager compared to his experience at Bournemouth.
The Liverpool legend said: “Do they get injuries? If you look at most of his seasons, the second half of the season, they [Bournemouth] drop off.
“I think last season was the first time they had a great second half of the season. Normally, they’re up there at the start of the season.
“So these are the things that you have to take into account, and then does the intensity actually have to drop off a little bit?
“So you’re not actually getting the full Iraola, because you’re getting too many injuries, you’ve got too many games.
“And then he’s actually going to be more of a footballing manager, you’re on the ball more at Liverpool than you are at Bournemouth.”
