Dominik Szoboszlai admits he is ‘hopeful’ about Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool reign.
Szoboszlai will work under his third manager in four years at Anfield when he reports back for pre-season training next week alongside several of his teammates.
The Hungary international was the undisputed standout for the Reds last season as Arne Slot paid for an underwhelming Premier League title defence with his job.
Iraola was swiftly installed as the Dutchman’s replacement and has wasted little time getting to grips with his new charges in hopes of enjoying a strong start to his reign.
And Szoboszlai has backed the Basque to help him get closer to a lifelong dream of winning the Champions League while also moving the club in the right direction.
“As a child, I always dreamed of winning the Champions League – probably even more than winning the Premier League,” he told L’Equipe.
“But now that I’ve had a taste of it, I absolutely want to win the Premier League again because 2025 was just incredible.
“I’m convinced we can compete (in the Champions League), and I’m hopeful that with the new manager Andoni Iraola we’ll move in the right direction.
“And then, of course, I dream of playing in the World Cup one day.”
The Hungary international also hinted that he would be prepared to fill in at right-back again if required for Liverpool after excelling in the auxiliary position last term.
He added: “I could easily say ‘I don’t want to play full-back; either you put me in midfield, or I’m not playing’.
“But I don’t do that because I want to help my team however I can. It’s a team sport.
“Ultimately, I want to win, no matter where I’m asked to play. Some might say you’re perhaps too nice… I’m a team player. I’m not too nice, believe me!
“But I have too much ego; the more people try to tell me I won’t succeed, the more I take a perverse pleasure in proving them wrong.
“That’s why I have so much love for the people sitting on their sofas talking s**t about me.
“Honestly, moving from midfield to full-back really isn’t difficult. In midfield, you need a panoramic view because the play – and the opponents – can come from anywhere.
“Whereas at full-back, it’s pretty binary: if there’s no one in front of me, I’m free; if there’s an opponent, I’m not. Simple.
“But my preferred position is box-to-box midfielder, because I have every option: playing short or long, running with the ball, making runs off the ball, shooting from distance, or dropping in closer.”