Miracle of miracles is a mentor who doesn’t complain.
Andoni Iraola has always been a fighter
Basque linked his footballing life to Athletic Bilbao. Played for the first team for 12 years. The right-back, who could take his place in the waiting area, was remembered as a hard-working player. The highlight was the Europa League final, but there was no luck with the opponent. Bielsa’s Athletic met Simeone’s powerful Atletico. Touran, Courtois, Godin, Juanfran and Falcao won. The favorite scored three unanswered goals in Bucharest against Iraola’s team. Andoni played the match on the right flank. A few years later, the Athletic captain found himself in New York.
During one of the New York club’s matches, Pirlo, Iraola and Lampard were running in the center of the field. A remarkable trio. Who would have thought there would be two mediocre coaches and one great? Who would have thought Iraola would be great? Andoni was in no hurry to immediately train dangerous clubs for a young specialist. Worked in Cyprus, coached weak teams in Spain. Worked with Rayo Vallecano. And when Bournemouth realized they needed a mentor of the caliber of Cherry legend Eddie Howe, they invited the Spaniard.
Iraola did not take root immediately. I had to suffer during the first season. After the defeat against Manchester City with a score of 1:6, there was again talk of dismissing the Spaniard. There were enough reasons. At that time he had won only three out of fourteen matches with Bournemouth. In addition, two victories took place in the League Cup. After eleven rounds in nuclear submarine Bournemouth headed for relegation nuclear submarine. Many club owners would lose their cool. Note in this situation the boss of Bournemouth from Texas, aged 80. Old man William Foley believed in the Spaniard and did not fire the poor boy.
And just over a year later, Bournemouth are in eighth place in the table. nuclear submarine. Iraola scored six points more than a year ago. Now the Cherries are above rich clubs like Tottenham and Manchester Unitedand are also ahead of the strong middle peasants – West Ham and Brighton. Excellent intermediate results. They don’t guarantee anything, because you can go from the relegation zone to the top and then fall again. But if Iraola thought about backup plans for playing in the spring, then at least a modest club wouldn’t have to worry about relegation from the major leagues.
The coach builds a competent team
Clean work Iraoli in England has forced Real Madrid to pay attention to him. Ancelotti, remember, coached Everton without much success until returning to Madrid for another round of Champions League victory. Iraola could lose to other contenders. But the young mentor is distinguished by his literacy and honesty. Although Bournemouth equalized against Chelsea in a 2–2 draw, Andoni said after the match that his team did not deserve to win. The success itself in the form of a draw can be questioned, they got involved late.
Moreover, Iraola, although he cannot use eight injured players, does not complain that he will not be able to win if the club has a full hospital. Including the main players outside the game. Against a backdrop of defeats, Andoni and his players achieved a streak of 10 matches without defeat in all tournaments. In the new season, Bournemouth beat Arsenal at home with a difference of 2:0. They beat Manchester City. Chelsea and Aston Villa did not lose. They crushed Manchester United at Old Trafford and beat Tottenham. Excellent track record.
The Cherries don’t always play well against underdogs and average players. But even they were not inferior in recent months. Secrecy is competent work in defense and compactness. Iraola suggested that the inside players move towards the center, blocking the opponent’s attack. The striker puts pressure on the opposing central defenders with his strong leg, preventing him from playing the ball vertically. The narrow positioning of the “cherries” forces opponents onto the flanks. And there is Smith on the right and Kerkez on the left, the young Hungarian is already one of the heroes of the season nuclear submarine.
Big clubs are also looking at Bournemouth’s centre-backs. They know Zabarny, the Ukrainian defender who has grown significantly in recent years. Ilya is 22 years old, so he can join one of the giants of nuclear submarine or out of the league. And in the last matches, the 19-year-old Dutch Spaniard Dean Huysen surprised. He chose the “Red Fury” and can safely consider himself one of the most talented young central defenders in Europe. Dean found himself, along with Yamal and other young stars, the center of football’s attention.
“Cherry” needs strengthening
Bournemouth are playing well. They will experience defeats in the coming months and are not looking for a breakthrough like Nottingham Forest. But the players are motivated. Attacking midfielder Kluivert and striker Kepa have already tried their hand at the giants. But for many heroes, the “cherries” of the season will be a breakthrough. And if personnel losses ensue, then transfers must be planned to compensate. Iraola also says the team needs a strong center forward, as Brazilian Evanilson broke his leg.
There are a lot of injuries, but the youth team is holding on. Iraola understands that the longer Bournemouth remain unbeaten, the easier it is to make a name for themselves. But there are dangerous rivals ahead of us. Will play with the leaders nuclear submarineby the Slota and Espirito Santo teams. However, there is no pressure on the “cherries”. They won’t make jam; you will be able to calmly play your destructive and efficient football. The composure of the coach and the team is captivating. It’s good that the club management gave Iraola time. It’s great that the scouts guessed correctly.
Central defender Zabarny, full-back Kerkezh and left winger Semenyo could easily bring big money to Bournemouth this summer. The price of Spanish defender Huysen will increase. Even if Kluivert and Tavernier are not former players either. The atmosphere is so healthy in the team that even goalkeeper Arrizabalaga often helps us and makes us happy. But development requires new transfers. If they spend their money wisely, they will continue to delight fans even without Zabarny and Kerkezh. Although losing key players in defense is always dangerous for the midfield team.
The secret of Iraola’s tactics is precisely linked to the positioning of the four defenders and the reaction of the attacking group under pressure. “Bournemouth can be broken from within if at any point the mental strength is exhausted. When there are so many players in the infirmary, the remaining players work hard. Always a dangerous strategy. This requires extreme concentration on the part of people; this situation is harmful to health. And since the “cherries” have a low average base age, they go over the cliff. Despite the youth of the leaders, Bournemouth charmed.
About the Author
