Andoni Iraola will restore Jurgen Klopp‘s heavy metal football at Anfield. That is the prediction from Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, who says that Iraola’s thrilling brand of football echoes Klopp’s approach. Former Bournemouth manager Iraola has been unveiled as the replacement for Arne Slot at Liverpool with a mandate to reintroduce exciting and attacking football to win back supporters.
Ex-Liverpool manager Klopp – who famously characterised his approach as “heavy metal football” – secured silverware with exhilarating football, while Iraola earned a reputation at Bournemouth for producing stylish sides. Scott has no doubt whatsoever that Iraola will prove a tremendous success at Liverpool – particularly as supporters crave stylish football, which represented their principal grievance about former manager Slot.
Scott said: “What can Liverpool expect from Iraola? He is obviously a great manager, you see what we have done as a club at Bournemouth and how we have progressed over the three seasons he was with us.
“I think the way we press out of possession is very aggressive, maybe similar to the early Klopp teams Liverpool had, that fierce aggressiveness and pressing with the wingers. I would say he is similar to that. Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited, he has done a lot for me personally.”
Scott also believes Iraola will enhance other players precisely as he did for his own development at Bournemouth. He added: “I have improved loads this season, out of possession and in possession. I feel like I have had his trust.
“Defensively, maybe in my first two seasons, I wasn’t at the level to be playing in the Premier League and that is something I had to learn on and learn from the players ahead of me in the team.
“But he put his trust in me from the first game of the season and I started and played 34 full games this year, so that is something to be really proud of. Injury free as well, which I was happy with.
“The manager has been amazing for me, working with me going forward, defensively, being more aggressive, and that is the reason I played most games this season.”