Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo has offered a candid account of life under Andoni Iraola, providing Liverpool supporters with fresh insight into the coaching philosophy of the man widely tipped to become the club’s next manager.
Iraola emerged as the leading candidate for the Liverpool job following his departure from Bournemouth this week and the dismissal of Arne Slot last Saturday.
Semenyo, who worked under Iraola for two-and-a-half years at Bournemouth before joining City in January, described the Spaniard’s methods as demanding but ultimately transformative.
Speaking on the In the Mixer podcast last month, the Ghana international admitted players initially struggled to adapt to Iraola’s rigorous approach: “We didn’t really have any days off, so it’s very hard for a team to go from having Wednesday and Sunday off to having no days off,” Semenyo said.
He explained that even after matches, players were expected to return immediately to training: “We would play on the Saturday and train on the Sunday… You’re hanging; your legs are gone. You’re doing the possession drills and running around thinking, ‘Oh dear!’”
The intensity, he noted, initially led to frustration among players and supporters, particularly as results failed to improve in Iraola’s early months.
“The results weren’t going our way and the fans were saying he needs to be sacked,”Semenyo recalled.
However, a home victory over Burnley proved a turning point, helping the squad gain confidence in Iraola’s system.
“Everyone slowly got used to the system and it just went up from there,” he said.
Semenyo’s reflections highlight the high-intensity philosophy that transformed Bournemouth’s fortunes under Iraola and may offer Liverpool fans a glimpse of what to expect should he be appointed at Anfield.
