Read every word from the broadcast section of Iraola’s press conference below.
Sky Sports News: Can we start with the news that broke yesterday and your reaction to the man that’s going to succeed you in Marco Rose? What did you make of the appointment?
Andoni Iraola: Yes, obviously I knew, I was told before you that Marco was going to be the new manager. I said the club is in very good hands past week, and I think he’s a great manager. I think you already got that I did an interview some years ago where I praised him. I always liked his teams, and I hope he continues, and does amazing. But he’s a very good manager with a lot of also European experience and it looks exciting, yes.
SSN: Have you spoken to him? Did he call you and ask your advice? Have you had a conversation since?
AI: No, I don’t know him personally. I’ve followed his teams and I’ve always liked his teams, but we’ve never spoken, we’ve never faced each other. And I suppose he has time now to analyse everything we are doing and to prepare well for the next seasons.
SSN: It is quite an odd situation in that everything is kind of smooth and the transition is all there. If he wanted to come in before the summer and see you, see the players, get an idea, almost like work experience, is that something you’d be open to?
AI: I think it’s always difficult, from my side, from the club side, to do this kind of transitions. But I think there has always been a very good relationship between the sides and we’ve been so honest and so open that I think the club has done a really good job. We’ve had this week or this past week, no, where we announced everything and obviously this in the news, but I think everyone knows now what’s happening and now our focus is we have five games, we have an amazing chance. So let’s focus on this. And I think now from this week, I think our focus is we explain the situation, we explain how it’s going to develop. And now let’s focus on the things that are coming that are really nice.
SSN: And just finally, before we talk about what may lie ahead, what reaction from the players? Because it’s always a strange situation. Clearly they want to play for you for the last few weeks, they made that quite clear on the weekends, but what’s the reaction to his appointment?
AI: I didn’t ask them. I didn’t ask them what they think about the new manager. I think they should be happy because he’s someone that definitely can improve the team and work in some things similarly to us, in other things with his own way. But I’m sure the players are happy that they know what to expect, what’s happening. And I’ve always said I’m very thankful to this group of players. They are the ones that allowed me to be now in this position. And I’m sure they will give everything in these five games. I don’t know if we will win, we will lose, we will— but I have no doubts about their willingness, about their attitude, and looking forward to these five games and more motivated than ever, probably.
SSN: You said it won’t distract what’s going on, but it does help you, doesn’t it, to finish these five games on high with them knowing what’s happening, you know what’s happening? That could be the difference you talk about small margins all the time— could be what helps get you over the line to European place?
AI: Yes, I think we are in a great, great place. I still think we have it very difficult because we need to get like on a good run of games after a very good run of games. It’s like, okay, you’ve been in a good run and when you need another good run and you cannot almost have a lot of mistakes, no? But I see the mood on the team is really nice. Everyone is pushing, everyone is giving me headaches selecting the starting XI, selecting the squad. And these five weeks we have remaining, no, I hope we can keep this level of performance, of consistency. And I’m looking forward for the games. That is always good.
SSN: We know how key momentum is, and you look at your very good run, as you said, 13 games. You look at the sides around you, you look at Chelsea not being able to win, you look at five draws in a row for Brentford. As a group, you must be in a position where you feel like you can seize that moment because so much of it is the top two inches, so much of it is about belief and consistency and that regularity of winning tough games.
AI: Yeah, I think we are now in a good place in the standing, but still I think it’s very difficult for us because we are competing against a lot of teams. Sometimes it’s not, you are competing against one team and whoever wins. No, no, we are competing against six, seven, eight teams almost. So I said it past week, statistically, one or two of those teams will win four games or three games and two draws. You want to be the one doing it, but you know it’s going to be very difficult. You don’t need something like, if it goes normal, we will arrive there. No, no, we need something better than normal. We are doing it, but we have to continue doing it because we are the same way that there are some teams probably not in the best form. You have others that are in a great form like us, like Brighton, like others that are growing into the season. Whoever wants to go has to win a lot of games from this next five. I hope it’s us, but it’s going to be very difficult.
SSN: How special would it be, just personally, when you arrived, how difficult that start was, to walk away from a club that clearly you hold in great affection, to know that you’ve done something nobody else has ever done before?
AI: Obviously it would be incredible for us, but still we see it far. We see it far. I think it’s something that is there, but I think you have to do something special now in the last games. Everything costs more in the last games because every team wants to get whatever their goal is. And starting from tomorrow, every point now is massive for everyone. But I hope we can play the same way we faced the last games. Playing well, playing good football, not feeling almost the pressure. It’s like, let’s go, let’s enjoy. Even we know there is a lot of play, but let’s enjoy this moment.
SSN: And just on Leeds, the pressure flips a little bit because you go to Arsenal and people don’t necessarily expect you to win. How good are your players going to be at handling that pressure to win now, being in that really strong position?
AI: I think we have to realize well what kind of game we have tomorrow. Leeds comes in the last six games, they are unbeaten, three wins, three draws, including the cup competition. I think last game, so since they’ve changed to a back 5, I think if not the best, one of the best defensive teams in the league. So normally it should be a very difficult game tomorrow. They are coming from winning away at Old Trafford. Playing very well, the other day 3-0, playing very well. So they are like us in a very good run of games. So for me, it’s the same mentality we had against Newcastle, we had against Arsenal. We have to compete, we have to play very well, and then it’s going to be decided by probably small details. We scored late winners, kind of late winners, especially the other day. Probably tomorrow has to be the same again. And now Leeds are probably one of the best teams of the last games.
SSN: Just finally, any team news? Obviously unchanged in the last couple. Any injuries? Should we be aware of anybody coming back?
AI: No, I think it’s going to be very similar. We have out Justin and Lew, and then it’s a matter of seeing how they are the ones that have played the last two games, no one had any injuries, but it’s true that some of them finished very tired, like they should be after the game. And the changes or possible movements in the team will be considering the freshness of the players and how we can approach the game against Leeds, that is going to be a little bit different because of their tactical structure. It’s a back five, we will need different things.