Pep Guardiola recently shared his thoughts on what Barcelona need to do to win the Champions League again, and his message could be particularly relevant to new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool have not lifted Europe’s biggest trophy since their triumph in Madrid in 2019, and expectations remain sky-high at Anfield. While winning the Champions League should always be one of Liverpool’s primary goals, Guardiola stressed that success cannot be judged solely by European glory.
According to Guardiola, the focus should be on consistent progress, strong daily work, and continuous improvement. He argued that a season should not automatically be considered a failure simply because a team falls short in the Champions League.
Those comments carry weight for Iraola as he begins a new era at Liverpool. The pressure at clubs like Liverpool and Barcelona can quickly derail managers and long-term projects if immediate success is demanded.
Liverpool supporters will expect the team to challenge for every major trophy next season, but there must also be patience as Iraola implements his ideas and builds his own identity. Guardiola believes domestic league performance remains the best measure of a team’s overall progress and stability.
That lesson is particularly relevant after Liverpool’s disappointing 2025/26 campaign, where they struggled for consistency in the Premier League and suffered a difficult Champions League exit.
For Iraola to succeed, Liverpool must provide him with the resources, squad depth, and support required to compete on multiple fronts. Equally important will be creating a strong connection between the manager, players, and supporters while establishing a style of football worthy of the club’s traditions.
If the foundations are put in place this summer, Iraola will have the platform needed to build a team capable of challenging for the Champions League once again in the years ahead.
It is advice that Liverpool’s new manager would be wise to take seriously.
