Valencia manager Javier Aguirre wants to work on improving Liverpool‘s Harvey Elliott, after claims of the player being overweight.
Last season, the Premier League side sent him on loan to Aston Villa, and the move didn’t work out.
Andoni Iraola, who arrived at Anfield in the summer, didn’t include him in his core plans this season. Therefore, he pushed to leave Liverpool for Valencia on deadline day.
Carlos Corberán was then in charge at the Mestalla. Los Ches have endured a difficult run this season, winning only one of their seven league matches. Therefore, they parted ways with Corberán on September 13th and appointed Aguirre as his successor.
Manager focusing on Liverpool player
The Mexican’s first game in charge will be against Racing Santander on October 11th, after the international break.
However, he has started working with Valencia players who didn’t receive a call-up for this international break. Harvey Elliott’s belongs to this category and Superdeporte have a report on the Liverpool owned player.
The 23-year-old has made three substitute appearances for the La Liga side so far. This isn’t surprising considering his record at Aston Villa last season. He played 227 minutes from nine matches for Unai Emery’s side.
Javier Aguirre and his backroom staff want to improve the player’s fitness and two other areas.
| Harvey Elliott — stats | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club(s) | Liverpool | Liverpool, Aston Villa | Valencia |
| Appearances | 28 | 11 | 3 |
| Minutes played | 817 | 283 | 85 |
| Goals | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Assists | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Goal contributions | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Minutes per goal | 163 | 283 | — |
Important to improve Liverpool man’s fitness
Last week, Sport Witness covered a report from Spain explaining that England-born player is overweight.
Javier Aguirre wants to work on his fitness and tactically and help him emotionally. The most important is his physicality, probably after the overweight claims.
The move to the Spanish club saw Harvey Elliott leave England for the first team. He has joined a team in crisis in a new country and new language, without a pre-season.
Conditioning coach Pol Lorente has joined the new manager’s backroom staff. He wants to get the Reds attacker ‘back in shape’ in order to regain his best form. Valencia are aware it will take a few weeks for him to reach the ‘peak physical condition’.
From a tactical point of view, Elliott and his Valencia teammates all start from the same point. They have to adapt and adjust to Aguirre’s methods.
The outlet adds: ‘The least urgent task, but perhaps the most important, is the emotional one. Elliott left England for the first time, where a different culture, language, and climate prevail. Far from home, the player on loan from Liverpool must adapt to something new…’
Lorente’s immediate focus is to help Elliott arrive in good physical condition for the away clash against Racing Santander.
