Andoni Iraola has officially got down to work as Liverpool head coach. Adressing the media at AXA Training Centre during his introductory press conference on Monday morning, the 44 year old spoke openly and honestly about a wide-variety of topics.
One of the key messages he was eager to get across was the need for reinforcements. Even when the Reds' World Cup representatives return, his squad is currently very threadbare, partially due to departures, but also as a result of ongoing long-term injuries.
Trio Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitiké remain sidelined due to serious issues they suffered during the course of last season, which is far from ideal for the new boss. Nevertheless, they are very much in Iraola's plans, having this to say about them:
What Andoni Iraola said about Ekitiké, Bradley and Leoni
"I love them, they are the long-term solutions...we have the situation with, especially those three big injuries that are going to miss some time that we also have to find a way to replace [them]."
The new head coach added that "especially in Hugo's case" there will be "a period where we will be without him", reiterating the need for new signings.
When could Liverpool's injured trio return?
As Iraola alluded to, considering the severity of the injury, and just how horrific it was, Ekitiké will the be the last of the three to return to action.
Injured players | Injury suffered | Date last played |
|---|---|---|
Giovanni Leoni | Torn ACL | 23 September vs Southampton |
Conor Bradley | Knee bone and ligament damage | 8 January vs Arsenal |
Hugo Ekitiké | Achilles tendon rupture | 14 April vs PSG |
Teenager Leoni heartbreakingly suffered a torn ACL on his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup and has not been seen since. Bradley meantime sustained a gruesome knee injury in January, but could be in action soon, albeit the same may not be true for Ekitiké. The ACL rupture he sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in April was described as the worst injury an athlete could suffer, meaning Iraola probably has to plan for, pretty much, all of next season without him. Nevertheless, once they return, all three will have plenty to offer.
Why Iraola is excited to work with Liverpool's injured trio
Giovanni Leoni
An Italian youth international, we're yet to get to know Giovanni Leoni. He joined the Reds for £26 million last August, with a sky-high reputation. Despite having made only 17 Serie A appearances for Parma, he had certainly caught the eye. BBC Sport journalist Umir Irfan labelled him "very physical" and praised his "incredible strength", while now former Italy national team manager Gennaro Gattuso labelled him a "great personality", heralding his "impressive bursts of speed".
Thus, with Ibrahima Konaté having departed and Jérémy Jacquet arriving, there is a changing of the guard alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, with Leoni hoping to establish himself as a key figure as the season goes on. Given his injury on debut, he will be the archetypal 'like a new signing'
Conor Bradley
In contrast to Leoni, Liverpool supporters know all about the other two sidelined stars. 23 year old Bradley was set for a larger role in the squad, following Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure for Real Madrid. The Northern Irishman featured in 15 of the first 21 Premier League games last season, prior to his injury in January. Without him, Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong are the only current right-back options, so having him back would represent a major boost.
Hugo Ektiké
Last, and certainly not least, Ekitiké is indisputably the most impactful absentee. After arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69 million, he scored 17 goals in all competitions, including 11 in the Premier League. Alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, the Frenchman was one of very few Liverpool players who came away from last season with any real credit.
Ekitiké had established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, making it understandable why Iraola can't wait to have him back. However, his return is still likely to be many months away.
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