Andoni Iraola press conference: Reaction to Fenerbahce 3-2 Liverpool
Andoni Iraola analysed Liverpool's 3-2 defeat by Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday during a post-match press conference.
The Reds were beaten at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium after twice leading in the contest, through goals from Trey Nyoni and substitute Alexander Isak.
The hosts responded to equalise via Mason Greenwood and then Archie Brown, before a Vedat Muriqi header earned the victory in Istanbul.
Read what head coach Iraola had to say following the game below.
On the game…
The main reason I can find to lose the game is we conceded [from] three set-pieces. It's something that we were doing very well in the league, I think we were dealing [with it] quite well until today. We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce, but we concede from a free-kick, from a corner, even from the long throw at the end.
They are goals that have hurt us because we have twice gone in front after having good moments, controlling the game, arriving. We found the goals. But after, we conceded in situations that we definitely should defend better.
On the 'frustration' of the defeat…
It's frustration, because it's a difficult place to come here and to play and we were for the most part of the game thinking, 'OK, we can win this one.' But obviously it hasn't happened.
We have conceded, 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 Muriqi jumps and wins the ball against three of our defenders, it's something that definitely we have to defend better.
On his starting line-up and the decision to play Bradley Barcola through the middle…
Yeah, I think we put in Victor [Munoz] and Rio [Ngumoha], they were more fresh. We thought also that for Alex [Isak] it was maybe good to play 30 minutes, not more. We wanted to try Bradley. We tried Cody [Gakpo] in the past week against Chelsea. We wanted to play Bradley.
We thought it would work well because I think Bradley, in terms of speed [and] the match-ups, it could be good for him. He hasn't found the position too hard... all season he has been better when he has played outside wide, and then obviously with Cody, with Alex, I think we've been more dangerous.
On his team giving away 'cheap' goals…
Yes, as you say, they are cheap goals. They are messy goals. It's a free-kick; it's quite far also the free-kick. You know, it is through the wall, [they are] mistakes that can cost you. The last goal... it is a long throw, the first phase is control, but after a very long ball and Muriqi wins it.
The second one is, I think Cody is the one touching the ball just in front of Ali [Alisson Becker]. 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. It was, I suppose, difficult there, the communication between Ali and Cody.
On making five changes to his XI…
We've done this not just today. We've been doing it all season and all the games we've played midweek. I think we've been changing at least four, five, six, seven players. Because of the schedule that we have, it's impossible to maintain with always the [same] starting XI. I think we have been dealing well with these rotations. I trust the squad to sustain the level.
I don't think it was the main reason why we lost, I think some of the players that didn't play on the weekend have played a good game. We have to look more at how we conceded the goals [and] the reason why we didn't win because after I think we had good moments, especially on the ball where we could score our two goals.
On if conceding overall control or whether the way the goals were conceded was more frustrating for him…
I think we had, before scoring the goals, some very good moments on the ball. I think we're having very good offensive situations. The thing is we concede almost straight away. We don't have a lot of time after the goal. Also, it's the way we conceded goals. It's a long free-kick. I don't even think it was a foul, but it doesn't matter. It's situations that we've been dealing [with] well until today.
It's something that we were very aware of in pre-season. We've reinforced a lot the defensive set-play situation. We are doing very well in the league but today it has cost us. We know they are strong there, especially with Muriqi, with [Romelu] Lukaku, with the centre-backs, but maybe the last goal is the only one that is because they are strong in there, they are tall. The others are situations that we have to control better.
