After all-but securing mathematical safety with a 4-1 victory over Leeds United at the end of April, Cherries head coach Gary O’Neil took the opportunity to use the remaining four games of the season to try new ideas and playing styles. Cherries’ place in next season’s Premier League was confirmed despite defeat at Crystal Palace two weeks later, meaning they went into the final two clashes with Manchester United and Everton with little pressure. Whilst Cherries were unable to add to their tally of 39 points, it proved more than enough, with Leicester City in the final relegation spot going down with a total of 34. Asked if Cherries had been trying new things in their final games,
Ryan Christie said: “Absolutely. I mean, we’re in a nice position where we can try these things this season, going into the next season. These last three games we’ve been kind of tweaking stuff, experimenting a little bit. For the most part, I think it’s worked. I know that the results these last three, four games have been frustrating, but the games – Chelsea game, thought we played well for the most part. Man United, we were in the game the whole game and even (against Everton). Obviously, Palace was a bit of a frustrating one for us. Plenty to work on, but quite positive.”
Arriving on deadline in August 2021, Christie helped Cherries earn promotion last season before making 32 top-flight appearances as the Dorset outfit secured another season of Premier League football.
Ryan Christie said: “Another season in the Prem, that’s the exciting thing. Getting to do this all over again and hopefully have an even more successful season. If we’d got a better result (against Everton), we could have jumped another couple of places. So hope for next season to constantly keep pushing. All the staff are on that wavelength, all the boys are on that wavelength and come back and ready to do all again.”
Discussing the final day defeat at Goodison,
Ryan Christie surmised: “ I think we wanted to come and given a good account of ourselves, obviously the game would have been on TV and stuff and obviously we wanted to finish the season as well with a positive result. Frustrating we didn’t do that. But I think for the majority of the game we played well. Definitely took the game to them, obviously frustrating that we didn’t get a result. I think we would have deserved it.”
