This week, Isak gave an exclusive interview to the British media, discussing Iraola's demands on him, his partnership with Gakpo, and his thoughts on Potter.

Physically and mentally, how are you feeling right now?
I feel great, everything is on track, and the team is in good form. The most positive thing is that everything is steadily improving, which gives me and the whole team confidence for the future.
The team has a new coach, which is undoubtedly a new beginning for everyone. What changes has Iraola brought for you personally?
This high-intensity style of play suits me and the club well, and it aligns with the football philosophy the team wants to implement. I often consult with him. He has to coordinate the entire team, and we all know that as long as he stays healthy and performs as he does today, he can contribute with goals and assists.
But most of his demands on me go beyond just scoring goals; he asks me to participate in defense and to defend in specific areas. Once we regain possession, we can quickly launch counterattacks and deliver the ball to the attacking players up front.
That's interesting—usually head coaches ask forwards to focus on scoring, but you mentioned defense first. Is he trying to develop your all-around ability?
Yes, scoring goals is important, but he wants us to understand that our defensive work creates scoring opportunities; defense is also an offensive weapon.
I noticed that in several goals against Ipswich, the team quickly passed the ball to you. During your successful period at Newcastle, the team also quickly passed the ball to you. Do you need this kind of quick passing support to perform at your best and score goals?
Exactly. This is what the entire team needs to achieve—not just passing the ball to me, but quickly advancing the ball to all attacking players up front. If we can do that, we will score more goals.
Let's talk about your partnership with Gakpo. I know you've been playing together for a season, and your chemistry seems quite good.
The partnership has worked very well so far. He's very versatile and can do almost anything on the pitch—whether it's playing out wide, dropping back to receive the ball, or delivering excellent crosses and final passes.
Let's talk about that big transfer last year. Was there ever a moment last season where you thought: "Oh no, maybe this transfer wasn't the right choice?" I know you were plagued by injuries, and luck wasn't on your side for much of the season.
No, I never thought that.
Looking back at those days, how difficult were they?
To be honest, I rarely look back. I've said before that those days were indeed tough, and anyone who has experienced a long-term injury can relate. But when you're in good form now, you don't dwell on the past because there's no point. I only look forward, full of anticipation for this season and the team's prospects, and I'm very excited.
Where does your love for football come from?
For me, it comes from the streets and school. In my free time, I was always playing football.
When did you realize you could pursue a career in professional football?
Around 15 years old.
What stage of your career were you at then?
I was at a local club, occasionally training with the first team.
You achieved a lot at a young age and received attention early on, right?
Exactly. I became famous in Sweden at a young age and started my career very early.
Did you always dream of playing in the Premier League?
Yes, that was one of my career goals. I always wanted to play in the Premier League, and I also wanted to play in Spain—and I actually played there for three years.
What was it like to play in Spain? It was there that the world started to recognize you.
I watched a lot of La Liga matches as a child, so it was great to play there. You could say it was the first real breakthrough in my career.
That experience shaped your playing style, and your current team coach is also Spanish. Does that feel familiar to you? Do you like it?
Of course. I can see echoes of my time playing in Spain in many of the daily training methods and ideas.
Let's talk about the World Cup. You played in the Euros, and last summer was your first World Cup. Did this major tournament come at just the right time to help you regain your match rhythm after your injuries last season?
Exactly. I had a lot of injuries last season, and the World Cup was a great opportunity to get on the pitch and regain my match fitness. And representing your country at the World Cup is a very rare experience in itself—a dream for most players—and that experience was wonderful.
Premier League fans are very familiar with Sweden's coach Potter. What's it like working with him in the national team?
It's great. He's English, but he has deep ties to Swedish football and even speaks Swedish.
Really? How well does he speak it?
He speaks it very well, very fluently, which is rare. The whole team respects him for that.
For you, what would constitute a successful season for Liverpool this season?
Everyone knows that for a big club like this, success means winning trophies—preferably multiple trophies. Of course, winning one trophy would also be considered a success. Trophies are the benchmark for measuring success or failure for this club.
Returning to the previous topic, you scored a maximum of 23 goals in a single season at Newcastle. Are you confident you can break that record this season?
It depends. People are different; some like to set goals, some don't. I'm the latter. Of course, I hope to score in every match.
Finally, please complete this sentence: When I finish my playing career, I will ____
Enjoy life and relax. (laughs)
That's interesting. Many people say that, but after retirement, many end up becoming coaches. Do you think you'll go into coaching in the future?
It's hard to say. I can't imagine myself as a coach right now, but my thoughts might change by the time I'm 40. Life is still long.
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Liverpool
Suecia
Graham Potter
Alexander Isak
Cody Gakpo
Andoni Iraola
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