Liverpool supporters may have to wait a little longer to see Jeremy Jacquet in action.
Speaking about the young defender’s fitness, Andoni Iraola made it clear that the club will not rush his return, despite Liverpool’s current shortage of experienced centre-backs.
The Reds boss said:
“With Jeremy we still don’t know if it’s worth it or not to put him in against Leeds. He did the first part of the pre-season, let’s say, very well. Now he’s feeling some discomfort, so we don’t want to rush him.”
It is another reminder that Liverpool are taking a long-term view with one of their most exciting summer signings.
A Long Time Without Football
Jacquet has not played a competitive match since February, and Iraola admitted that fact is central to Liverpool’s cautious approach.
The head coach added:
“He comes from a lot of months without playing.”
While supporters are understandably eager to see the French defender make his debut, returning after such a lengthy absence requires careful management.
Modern football places enormous physical demands on centre-backs, particularly in a high-intensity system like Iraola’s.
Liverpool Need Him—But Not at Any Cost
One of the most revealing parts of Iraola’s comments concerned his long-term plans.
He explained:
“Obviously I would like to try with him with Virgil [van Dijk] when he recovers, because with the injury of Joe [Gomez] we’ve been without senior centre-backs.”
That statement says a lot.
It strongly suggests Iraola already sees Jacquet as someone capable of competing alongside Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
That is a significant vote of confidence for a player who has yet to make his first appearance for the club.
Joe Gomez’s Injury Has Complicated Things
Liverpool’s defensive options have been stretched throughout pre-season.
With Joe Gomez sidelined through injury and Van Dijk only recently returning from his extended summer break, Iraola has had limited opportunities to work with his preferred central defensive partnerships.
It would be easy to throw Jacquet straight into the team.
Instead, Liverpool are choosing patience.
The Right Decision
Supporters naturally want to see new signings as quickly as possible.
But rushing a player who is only just returning to fitness would serve nobody.
Liverpool invested heavily in Jacquet because they believe he can become a key part of the defence for years to come.
Risking another setback in a pre-season friendly would make little sense.
Looking Ahead
Whether Jacquet features against Leeds now remains uncertain.
But Iraola’s comments should reassure supporters.
Liverpool are thinking beyond the next friendly.
They are thinking about having Jeremy Jacquet fully fit and ready for the challenges of the Premier League season.
Sometimes the hardest decision for a manager is not picking a player.
It is knowing when to wait.
And judging by Iraola’s words, Liverpool believe patience now could pay off over the months ahead.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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