Attitude Determines Altitude
In football and in life, talent sets the potential. Attitude determines how high you climb.
Peak altitude means trophies, medals, parades and bragging rights. Klopp and Slot both took Liverpool to the summit.
A coach has enormous influence on the attitude of his players. So how did Klopp and Slot differ—and what can we expect from Iraola?
RELATED: Klopp And His Gegenpress vs. Slot’s Structured Control
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Klopp: Believe It Is Possible
When Jürgen Klopp arrived, Liverpool needed more than better players and tactics. We needed belief.
His mission was simple: turn “doubters into believers.”
Years of disappointment had conditioned us to expect something to go wrong. Klopp changed that mentality before he changed the trophy cabinet.
He was energetic, optimistic and defiant. Losing finals did not change his belief that Liverpool were heading upwards. Eventually, we all believed it too.
Barcelona at Anfield was the ultimate example. The players had the ability, but Klopp gave them the belief that the impossible was possible. Never forget Salah’s shirt: “Never Give Up.”
Slot: Calm, Controlled Confidence
Arne Slot was very different.
Controlled, analytical and self-assured, he showed that positive leadership does not always need fist pumps and emotion.
He trusted the squad, made measured changes and never acted as though replacing Klopp was an impossible burden.
Klopp himself encouraged supporters to embrace Slot immediately—“Arne Slot, la la la la la”—handing him an atmosphere of belief rather than doubt: the Klopp way.
Slot’s first-season title showed the power of an authentic attitude.
But his difficult second season also showed something else: attitude has to be renewed. Calmness can steady a team, but when it starts to look like passivity and urgency disappears, altitude can fall quickly.
RELATED: The Klopp Slot Paradox
Iraola: Humility, Hunger, Passion and Something to Prove
Andoni Iraola arrives with a different attitude again, but like his predecessors, it’s very much his own.
His intelligent, humble message is essentially: I have to prove I belong here.
He is not treating Liverpool as a reward for Bournemouth. He sees it as his next challenge.
His teams reflect him: passionate, intense, aggressive, proactive and brave.
He wants to give us a team we can be proud of, while rebuilding the connection between players, crowd, city and club.
His first task is not simply choosing a formation or installing a press. It is creating a team whose body language says: We are brave. We are aggressive. We are together. Chaos is OK!
His first press conference gave us an immediate glimpse of his mindset.
Asked about the huge number of matches, he saw opportunity: more games mean more chances to use the whole squad.
Asked about opponents sitting in a low block, he again saw opportunity: Liverpool should have more possession, concede fewer chances and spend more time attacking.
He did not ignore the problems. He instinctively looked for the opportunity inside them.
I love that positivity!
Klopp, Slot, Iraola: different personalities; similar principles rooted in personal core values.
WATCH: Iraola vs. Slot — What We Learned From Iraola’s First Liverpool Press Conference
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What Has Preseason Taught Us?
The Iraola identity is already becoming clear: intensity.
Playing vertically. Pressing high. Aggressive football. Progressive passing. Full-backs given freedom. Wingers comfortable on either side. Unpredictable.
And we have seen Iraola on the touchline encouraging bravery. When someone tries a dangerous pass, even if it fails, you hear “Yes!” When a centre-back hesitates, he wants him carrying the ball forward.
He demands courage, not caution.
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One Last Thought: The Investors
When the news broke, it was hardly a surprise. It had been rumoured for some time, and naturally the reaction has been mixed.
My take?
1892 Holdings—an investor group led by Amit Bhatia, with investment from the Mittal Family Trusts, K5 Sports and EE Capital—taking a significant minority stake in Liverpool has to be positive.
Love the name!
Put yourself in Iraola’s shoes, or those of his staff and players. Their decision is a huge vote of confidence from people who have thrived in the business world, proving that a winning attitude is everything.
It does not mean an immediate massive transfer kitty. But if it helps Liverpool grow commercial revenue, particularly through new US and Asian sponsorship, that ultimately creates more money for recruitment.
Add it all up—Iraola’s attitude, the intensity we are already seeing and fresh investment in the club—and I head into the season with huge optimism.
(I know, I know: we need transfers!)
Because Klopp demonstrated it, Slot experienced it and Iraola now has the opportunity to prove it, with new investors significantly backing us:
“Attitude Determines Altitude.”