Iraola: I am very satisfied with Barcola's performance and now have a better understanding of how long he can play

In the first round of the Champions League league phase, Liverpool defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 at home. After the match, Liverpool manager Iraola was interviewed by CBS Sports.

After securing two consecutive victories tonight, does this mark the point when your team has truly got the season on track?

I think this was a very important match for us because it was our first game in the Champions League league phase, and we were facing an extremely strong opponent at home. Of course, we wanted to make a winning start. This victory was crucial both in terms of points and psychologically. After an extremely difficult start today, the team showed great character and resilience. The fans also gave us tremendous support, especially the atmosphere we felt at home when we played better in the second half. This was the first time I personally experienced that kind of impact at Anfield, and I think I will remember this match forever.

Did you have any doubts when Atletico took the lead and your team struggled in the first half? The team did face considerable difficulties at that time.

Yes, I think their tactical setup at the beginning was somewhat unexpected for us. We were not fully prepared at that moment, and making corrections during a match is never easy. However, after they scored, we made significant improvements. It was not until halftime that we truly caught up with their rhythm and completely neutralized their tactics. I also need to take responsibility for our poor start. We are still a team in the process of building and adapting, and we are not yet fully prepared to handle every tactical variation. That will take more time. Fortunately, the players performed very well, and once everything was settled in the second half, our performance was much better.

How would you evaluate Bradley Barcola's debut performance at Anfield tonight?

I am very satisfied with Bradley's performance. He had two excellent opportunities to score against the opposition goalkeeper. Although he did not score, the positions he took up were exactly what we expected — making decisive runs into the space behind the opposition during transitions between attack and defense. Another aspect is his physical condition. When he came off, he was suffering from cramps all over his body. Because he did not have a complete pre-season preparation period and had not previously had playing time, we were not sure how much energy he still had in his fitness reserve. After this match, we have a clearer understanding of him. He played 30 minutes against Ipswich in the previous match, and he played longer today. I think the key next is to help him gradually build up his fitness.

So this was not a calf injury?

No, there was absolutely no injury. He was just suffering from cramps all over his body. I think he was completely exhausted at that moment. He gave every last bit of energy he had on the pitch, and I am very grateful for that.

So he should be able to play again soon?

Yes, it should be fine. He may still feel tired now, and we are not yet sure how many minutes he can play, but he is not injured and his current mental state is very good.