Iraola explains Liverpool's pre-season defeats to Monaco and Leeds
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola cited a lack of physical stamina as the primary reason for recent defeats against Monaco and Leeds.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Jeff Buck
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has addressed his team's 2-3 defeat to Monaco in a recent friendly, noting that the match followed a similar pattern to the previous 2-4 loss against Leeds.
According to the manager, the core issue is the current physical inability of the squad to maintain a high level of intensity for the full duration of the match. While Liverpool started both encounters strongly, their performance dipped significantly after halftime.
It was very similar to the game we played against Leeds. We had a good first half, especially the first 30 minutes. At the moment, we probably don't have the strength to play at the level required. Andoni Iraola
Iraola pointed out that the team's energy levels drop following substitutions in the second half. Although the pre-season campaign began with two victories, the manager acknowledges that there is significant work ahead to ensure the players can sustain their desired performance levels throughout the entire 90 minutes.