Fenerbahçe 3-2 Liverpool | Andoni Iraola Champions League Post-Match Press Conference

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Before we get into the podcast, I want to let you know that you can get even more from The Redmen TV with a subscription to Redmen Plus. You can get loads of extra content, plus all of our usual free content, completely ad free, both in video and podcast form. Right now, you can get your first month of a monthly captain subscription for just one pound, or if you want to join us for the year, you can get a yearly captain subscription for half price. Simply download the Redmen Plus app and subscribe today. Right, I hope you enjoy this show.

SPEAKER_2 (0:43)

First question? Just the back there?

SPEAKER_3 (0:49)

Andoni, just initial thoughts on that?

Andoni Iraola (0:53)

Yeah, I think it's the main reason, now I can find, to lose this game. Is we conceded the present pieces, is something that we were doing very well in the league. I think we were dealing quite well until today. We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahçe, but we conceded from a free kick, from a corner, even from the long throw at the end.

And our goals that have hurt us, because I think we've gone twice in front. I think after having good moments, controlling the game, arriving, it has, we found the goals. But after, we conceded in situations that we definitely should defend better.

SPEAKER_3 (1:34)

Is it frustration or disappointment when with the way you've lost that, because you've gone too unopened?

Andoni Iraola (1:39)

It's frustration because it's a difficult place to come here and to play. And we were doing most part of the game thinking, I think we can win this one, but obviously it hasn't happened. We conceded, I think especially the first goal and the third goal. The second one is a rebound, but the wall, I don't think we set it properly.

And the last one even, where Morici jumps or wins the ball against three of our defenders is something that definitely we need. We have to defend better.

SPEAKER_3 (2:11)

Hi, Andoni, could you just talk through your starting line up a little bit, particularly the front line and playing Bradley through the middle. How did you think it went?

Andoni Iraola (2:19)

Yeah, I think we put the big door and real that they were more fresh.

We thought also that for Alex was maybe good to play 30 minutes, not more. And we wanted to try Bradley. We tried Cody the past week against Chelsea. We wanted to try Bradley. We thought it would work well because I think Bradley in terms of speed, the match-ups could be good for him. He hasn't found the position to have the opposition. He has been better when he has played outside wide. And then obviously with Cody, with Alex, I think we've been more dangerous.

SPEAKER_5 (3:00)

Andoni, I mean, you mentioned frustration there, but how annoying is it for your team to give up goals so cheaply and that's not what you've been doing all season?

Andoni Iraola (3:09)

Yes, as you say, our cheap goals, our messy goals are not... It's a free kick, it's quite far also, the free kick. You know, it's through the wall, our mistakes that can cause you the last goal, no? It's a long throw. The first phase is controlled, but after a very low ball, Morici wins it. The second one is, I think, Cody is the one touching the ball just in front of Ali, no? I suppose in the stadium it was almost impossible to communicate, because it was so noisy. It was even difficult for me to give any kind of instruction, that it was, I suppose, difficult there, the communication between Ali and Cody.

Vahittin Çiçek TV net.

My voice is coming, I will start. Yes, no, I can't. You started this match with a lot of rotations.

SPEAKER_1 (4:25)

Or did you do it to rest between Arsenal and Crystal Palace?

Andoni Iraola (4:36)

Yes, we've done this not just today. We've been doing it all the season.

All the games we've played midweek, I think we've been changing at least four, five, six, seven players, because the schedule that we have is impossible to maintain with always the starting 11 And I think we've been dealing well with these rotations. I trust the squad to sustain the level, and I don't think it was the main reason why we lost. I think some of the players that didn't play in the weekend have played a good game, and we have to look more at how we conceded the goals, of the reason why we didn't win, because I think we had good moments, especially on the ball, where we could score our two goals.