Andoni Iraola reveals Liverpool bosses' stark warning for him after replacing Arne Slot: 'Everything is not perfect'

Andoni Iraola has been told by

Liverpool

's owners that not everything is 'perfect' at the club and he insists he also has a lot to prove in his new job.

The former

Bournemouth

boss was recruited to replace sacked

Arne Slot

at the end of last season and is under no illusion that he is walking into a tough job at a behemoth of a club.

But Iraola, 44, is confident that he can prove he belongs at this level as he embarks on his first pre-season at Anfield.

'I feel like I have a lot of things to prove in terms of I've never coached a club as big as Liverpool,' said the Basque. 'It's a big challenge for me. But there always has to be that first moment.

'My career has been (going) slowly, slowly, you know? Going to a better club, to a better club, then you get a promotion…

La Liga

, then

Premier League

, then you get to a better class. So, I've experienced this kind of change of goals or coaching in a bigger club.

'And there is always a time where I say, "You have to prove that you belong". And this is the first month for me now. It's like, I need to prove myself, and get everyone to know that I belong here. That I have the level to stay here.

Andoni Iraola has been told by Liverpool's owners that not everything is 'perfect' at the club

The Spaniard insists he has a lot to prove at his new club after replacing Arne Slot

'That I have the level to coach Liverpool, and that's my challenge short term. Once you've gone through this process, and everyone understands that you belong there, everything gets easier, from the players, the supporters, the media, the opposition.

'You have to go through this process. This always happens. I trust myself a lot, and I think I'm ready for the challenge that I know is very big.'

Iraola has been one of the brightest coaches in the league, pound for pound, since he arrived from Rayo Vallecano. Taking Bournemouth to European football was a fantastic achievement given the spine of his team departed for pastures new in the last 18 months.

He knows that he has a lot of work to do to return Liverpool to former glories after a poor season that led to Slot's sacking, with several key players such as Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson all departing.

Iraola added: 'When I came here, the owners told me everything is not perfect. They said we would have some challenges, we would have to replace important players leaving, we have some injuries.

Harvey Elliott has been back in training after a disappointing loan at Aston Villa last season

'But we are here to solve these kinds of problems and to try to maximize what we have. In my opinion, we have a very good squad.'

Liverpool fly to the United States next Monday for a three-leg pre-season tour with fringe players eager to impress the new boss. Harvey Elliott was training alongside some youngsters, while Iraola had a first chat with midfielder Curtis Jones.

The Englishman has been subject to interest from Inter Milan – who had a bid turned down last month – and Nottingham Forest, among others as Liverpool value him at £35million.

Iraola said: 'I rate Curtis very highly. For me he is a great, great player and I hope he can continue with us and continue performing the way he has been performing. It's very important that he's Scouse, that he's from here.

'I also like the personality. From the outside at least he looks like a player with good character and I hope we can keep him, not only for this year but for more time.'