Press conference: Andoni Iraola explains how Liverpool surged to comeback victory over Villarreal
Andoni Iraola broke down the detail behind Liverpool's impressive 4-3 win over Villarreal during his post-match press conference.
The Reds trailed by two at the half-hour mark of Tuesday night's Champions League game at Anfield, with Georges Mikautadze and Sergi Cardona scoring for the visitors.
But Iraola’s team were level at half-time as Alexis Mac Allister and Ronald Araujo netted headers to restore parity.
They then dominated the early stages of the second period and the overwhelming pressure on Villarreal eventually told with two goals in the space of three minutes, scored by Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz.
Tani Oluwaseyi would make it 4-3 late on but Liverpool had done enough to record a third consecutive victory in this season’s league phase.
Read Iraola’s reaction at his post-match press conference below.
On the contrast between Liverpool’s performance in each half...
It definitely hasn’t been a boring game. I think they’ve been much better than us, especially the first 30-35 minutes until the 2-0. We did much better than them in the second half, especially the 30-35 minutes until the fourth goal, probably. We’ve probably started too relaxed in the game and even at the end, the 4-2. You think it’s done and they keep you there until the end, because they are a very good team. I value the three points a lot because we were facing a really good team today. I knew because I know them very well and I know how good they are and that’s the reason why I give importance and value to this win.
On the half-time substitution with Araujo going off for Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch moving to right-back...
Yes [Araujo is OK]. In the first half, it has cost us until the 2-0 to balance the game a little bit the game. I think in possession we’ve got much better positions from Trey [Nyoni] and Alexis to control it a little better, but without the ball they were overloading us in the middle with three holding midfielders and [Alberto] Moleiro, who basically is another midfielder coming inside. Ronald was feeling uncomfortable following all the way. At the end we thought that a player like Ryan Gravenberch could do both jobs - defensively following inside, even I think he’s good enough outside to sustain the one-v-ones, and also offensively could be a better help if you want for Rio [Ngumoha], attacking down the right side.
On Ngumoha’s performance…
I think he was coming from a very good game the other day, a very good second half against Brentford. Today he didn’t have an easy game because they were demanding of him defensively. Their left-back was attacking a lot, but there was a moment where offensively he’s been very difficult to stop. If we can put Rio in situations one-v-one where he can get into the box, normally he makes plays, he produces things. The assist to Alexis, I think it is, is a lovely play. He can even go down for a penalty, but he decides to continue and takes a great decision. Also endurance-wise, he’s been able to play more and more minutes. We were pushing for him a little bit, he was tired, but I think he has done a good effort and I’m very happy for him.
On Ngumoha’s mentality...
I’m happy with his attitude because he’s eager to improve the things that we think he needs to improve. He’s eager to add more things to his game. He has changed the sides a lot and has played a lot on the right lately. He’s feeling so comfortable now and he’s adding even some shots with the left [foot] that he hasn’t scored but he’s getting there, and if he can add these small things to his game it will put him in an even better position. That’s the good thing with Rio, he’s still 18, he’s not the full package. He can add things, fortunately for us also, and I hope he continues the same way. It’s not going to be always like this, he will have ups and downs in the process, but I’m happy because attitude-wise I’m seeing him in a great place.
On why he decided to start with Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak on the bench…
I think with Alex Isak we couldn’t risk today because he was coming from a muscle injury, bigger for the other day. He scored a goal but we had to be really careful with him, and with Florian and Bradley it would have been their fourth start in 10 days. [They] probably could have started, yes, but I didn’t want to take the risk and also they finished really tired the other day. The other day we played a game against Brentford, physically very demanding. A lot of players finished really tired and I knew that a lot of them didn’t have today more than some minutes, so that was the main reason, yes.
On his tactical changes at half-time…
Against Villarreal, they are so good on the ball. If you see the stats, people probably don’t rate them, but after Barcelona they are the best in everything in La Liga. They have 61 per cent of possession, their xG is through the roof. Probably they haven’t had the results they deserve with their performances.
So, if you are not really, really aggressive, you are not recovering the ball and until we didn’t match up properly and take a little bit more, risk if you want, we were struggling because it’s not a team that you can just press a little bit and [that is] enough. No, no, you go full gas and you go all the way or probably you are going to struggle without the ball. It has cost us probably until we haven’t felt like under massive pressure, 2-0 down, and then, OK, we have nothing to lose and then we need to be without the handbrake.
And from then I think we’ve been much better because we’ve won a lot of duels also. I think they are technically lovely players, but I think physically we’ve imposed our rhythm in the second half and I think it has been really difficult [for them] to cope with just the rhythm, yes.
On Mac Allister again showing his ability to score important goals…
I think Alexis is playing so, so well since the beginning of the season. Today, with Trey, probably he’s adapting to a higher position. I think he’s a player that can also arrive inside the box, be that, we call it a No.8, sometimes arrive into half-spaces and the first goal in a set-piece also is a great goal. He’s a great player heading the ball, even if he’s not the tallest he is always dangerous. And also the character, I think when you are 2-0 down, you are not playing well, he doesn’t panic, he organises. I think between him and Trey we found a way to turn the game and start controlling before half-time. And I think that he has a lot of experience, has won a lot things and for me it’s lovely to have him, yes.
On Liverpool scoring 12 goals in three Champions League games this season compared to nine goals in seven Premier League matches and why there is a marked difference…
I don’t really know the reason. It’s true that probably the LASK game is different but against Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, I think we’ve scored goals, we’ve been offensively, especially, really good. Probably in the Premier League we are not scoring at this level, probably also we are defending better. Different kind of games, different kind of opposition, I think more than [the difference being] the competitions, it is who you have played against.
