Andoni Iraola hits back at 'disaster' Bradley Barcola critics after stunning Liverpool hat-trick

Barcola answered his early critics in emphatic fashion by scoring a stunning hat-trick during Liverpool's 6-3 Champions League victory over LASK on Wednesday. The 24-year-old French winger had faced scrutiny following a slow start to his Anfield career, but his treble in Austria served as a powerful reminder of his elite quality.

His match-winning performance earned him UEFA's Player of the Week award. The former Paris Saint-Germain star took his tally to three goals in seven appearances across all competitions this season, proving he can be a decisive figure for the Reds.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool's weekend fixtures, manager Iraola was quick to defend Barcola from the premature negative judgements. The Spanish tactician highlighted the fickle nature of modern football and urged supporters to look at the bigger picture regarding the forward's adaptation.

"That's how it is in football. You win a match, you're great; you play a bad match, you're a disaster," Iraola explained to reporters. "It's the same for Bradley, as for everyone who works in football. You have to get used to it."

Iraola also pointed out a crucial mitigating factor for Barcola's initial struggles: his lack of a proper pre-season with his new team-mates. The manager remains entirely convinced that the winger will only get better as he builds stronger on-pitch relationships.

"You have to examine his involvement in the match with more hindsight," the Liverpool boss added. "It is still very early, especially since he did not play a single minute during preparation. The more he plays with us, the more he plays with his team-mates, the more he will improve."

With his confidence fully restored, the 24-year-old will be eager to translate his Champions League form into the Premier League as Liverpool look to build momentum. The Reds will next travel to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in a Premier League fixture on Saturday.