RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesLiverpool boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to media in Chicago in his latest media conference during the Reds' pre-season tour of the USA.
A 4-2 win over Sunderland in Nashville last week was followed by a 1-0 victory over Wrexham in New York in the early hours of Thursday.
Liverpool face Leeds United in Chicago on Sunday (21:00 BST kick-off) before concluding their pre-season back on Merseyside.
Here are the key lines from the Reds head coach:
Iraola clarified where he sees Floran Wirtz's best position: "We know what he can give us. I think he's also suited to our game model. I see him more probably in that position behind the striker. We know that he has played with Germany more on the left sometimes, but I think we're going to start working with him in that position behind the striker. He's quite complete as a player."
He was asked about Rio Ngumoha playing on the right side against Wrexham and his thinking behind it: "I normally used to try to encourage our wingers to have the ability to play both sides. I know some of them are more comfortable on one side, but our team is not normally symmetrical. Also, in pre-season, I have to see where they are more comfortable, but in my previous clubs most of the wingers have played both sides."
Asked whether any incoming wingers - with Liverpool preparing to make an offer for Paris St-Germain and France forward Bradley Barcola - would need to play on both wings, Iraola said: "Yes, it's a great skill to have because at the end you become less predictable. It becomes better for you to have more minutes - and also better for us because we can better use the squad."
On how important will Alexander Isak will be this season: "He has come in a good place. I think he was good in the World Cup - I saw him comfortable. First training is here and I think I've seen a good version of Alex. His pre-season is not going to be very long, but he will have three or four weeks of quality training, I hope, and then we can put him in a good place because he's going to be massive for us this season."
On whether the World Cup will delay supporters being able to see the team Iraola wants: "Probably, but not because I am going to meet the players late, or we are going to sign the players later. Even having my team ready for pre-season when there is a change of manager, these things take some time. I would like to say on the first day we are going to be perfect, that we're going to be in place, but probably it's not going to be like this. We will have to do the adaptation as quickly as possible."
On the pre-season tour: "I was really happy when I found out we were coming again to Chicago. I was here last pre-season with Bournemouth . I understand now the repercussion of Liverpool is not the same as when I came last season, but still it's been really nice. I hope we can finish it in a proper way also against Leeds. I think we can finish these two weeks properly."
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[BBC]
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