Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said his players lack the energy to play a full 90 minutes of football [1, 2].
The comments highlight significant concerns regarding the squad's physical conditioning and depth as the team prepares for the upcoming competitive season.
Iraola said this following a 3-2 preseason defeat to Monaco [2]. During the match, Liverpool lost a two-goal lead, marking the second consecutive game where the team failed to maintain an early advantage [3]. The manager said that the current state of the squad prevents the team from sustaining the tactical intensity he requires for a complete match [2, 3].
"Liverpool players don't have energy for 90 minutes," Iraola said [1].
The manager said that the lack of stamina is a primary obstacle to his strategic goals. He said that the team cannot sustain the level he wants [3]. According to reports, this deficiency in fitness and squad depth has directly impacted the team's ability to close out games [2, 3].
Iraola said he was frustrated over the team's inability to hold leads during the preseason tour. "We squandered a two-goal lead for the second match in a row," Iraola said [3].
The loss to Monaco serves as a critical indicator of the work remaining in the preseason. While friendly matches are typically used for experimentation and building fitness, the repeated collapse in the final stages of matches suggests a systemic issue with endurance [2].
“"Liverpool players don't have energy for 90 minutes,"”
These admissions from Iraola suggest a disconnect between the manager's high-intensity tactical demands and the current physical capacity of the Liverpool roster. If the squad cannot maintain intensity for 90 minutes during preseason, the team faces a high risk of late-game collapses and injuries once the grueling schedule of the regular season begins.
