Andoni Iraola
Bournemouth secured a hard-fought draw against Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season, thanks to Marcus Tavernier’s second-half goal. This result ensured the Cherries remained unbeaten in their second fixture against all 19 Premier League teams, a feat that manager Andoni Iraola was particularly proud of.
Andoni Iraola said: “I think today for me, even if the results not to get even the bigger prize haven’t happened with City and Liverpool, I didn’t want to lose today. I wanted the points so we could beat the points record that we got past season. Also, I wanted to finish without losing so we can do the 19 teams in the second game unbeaten. It is, I think, incredible. This is the most difficult achievement we’ve got with all the records. For me to play against the 19 teams and not to lose, and it’s something that I didn’t want to lose.”
Iraola’s satisfaction was evident as he reflected on the team’s performance throughout the season. Despite the challenging conditions, Bournemouth managed to maintain control of the game, particularly in the second half, where they increased their intensity and secured the crucial equalizer.
Andoni Iraola said: “I think it was really hot today. The ball went quite slow. Set pieces, they are strong. That’s been probably our weaker side all the season. They had a couple of corners where they’ve had big chances. Overall, I think we were controlling the game, probably having good chances also to good situations to finish and this. And second half, I think we started a lot stronger. I think we raised the intensity, we got the goal. And now it was a strange situation because we knew, the players knew when they were playing, the point is what we need, but we have to be careful. And, also for Forest, they tried also, but I think it was a good result.”
The match at the City Ground saw Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier cancel out Morgan Gibbs-White’s first-half goal for Forest, ensuring the Cherries ended their campaign on a high note. Despite not achieving a higher prize due to results elsewhere, Iraola emphasized the importance of the draw, which allowed Bournemouth to surpass their points record from the previous season.
Bournemouth’s ability to remain unbeaten in their second encounters against all Premier League teams is a testament to their resilience and tactical acumen under Iraola’s guidance. This achievement not only highlights their consistency but also sets a strong foundation for the next season.
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