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In the past six weeks, there has been a growing recognition in the Premier League that Bournemouth has discovered something special. Despite being overshadowed by other narratives, such as Aston Villa’s potential for a top four finish and Manchester City’s weaknesses, the team’s progress has not gone unnoticed. Also, it should be noted that Harry Maguire recently received the Premier League player of the month award.
During this time, Bournemouth was steadily gaining momentum and earning points. In November, they had significant victories against Newcastle United and Sheffield United; then in early December, they also defeated Crystal Palace and almost did the same against Villa. Despite these successes, they were not receiving much attention until they made history by winning at Old Trafford for the first time in 124 years.
The win was a significant turning point. Bournemouth had a greater number of shots on goal, a higher projected chance of scoring, hit the crossbar, and were unfortunate to have a goal denied by VAR. While a 3-0 loss at home for Manchester United may be viewed as another unfortunate event in a difficult season for the club, Bournemouth is finally receiving the acknowledgement they have earned.
The global community is becoming aware of an impressive streak in both the Premier League and the rest of Europe. Bournemouth has earned 13 points in their most recent five matches, an unmatched record in the Premier League, matched only by Aston Villa and Liverpool. In Europe, only PSG has a superior performance in their last five games, with Inter, Girona, and Juventus also keeping pace. Bournemouth is in impressive company.
The process of adjusting to manager Andoni Iraola has been a gradual one, taking longer than most Premier League owners would typically tolerate. Bournemouth’s bold move to part ways with the well-liked Gary O’Neil in the summer was met with intense scrutiny. Despite this, abandoning Iraola early was never considered.
The initial nine matches posed a challenge, as the team struggled with conceding goals and missed opportunities in their offensive plays. After O’Neil, who is currently leading Wolves, effectively used Bournemouth’s pressing strategy to secure a 2-1 win, he appeared on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football to demonstrate his tactics. This may have left Iraola feeling overwhelmed and wanting to disappear.
The current team heading to Luton this Saturday is vastly different from the one that played against Wolves only two months prior. They have significantly improved their ranking in the table, rising from 19th to 14th, and are now comfortably 10 points above the threat of relegation. It’s remarkable how much a manager’s strategies can change a team, especially when combined with an aggressive pressing style and skilled goal scoring.
Dominic Solanke embodies the team’s improved performance. He has netted five goals in his past eight Premier League matches, while spearheading an aggressive press from the forefront. He was tied as the club’s top scorer in the previous Premier League season with only seven goals, but has already surpassed that tally in the current season.
Sitting behind him are Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook, a dynamic midfield duo who relentlessly cover the field and aggressively tackle their opponents. In their match against Villa, Christie successfully completed six tackles and made two interceptions, setting an impressive benchmark that even the energetic John McGinn could not replicate. Earlier in the season, Iraola praised Christie as the most tactically astute player on the team, always aware of the game’s developments.
Recently returned to the starting lineup, Milos Kerkez is making an impact on the left side of the field. Meanwhile, Ilya Zabarnyi is currently excelling on the team, dominating ground battles as part of a high-risk defensive strategy.
In short, it is a challenge to face Bournemouth. They are relentless; playing against Iraola’s team for 90 minutes is comparable to running the steeplechase. Their determination is yielding results: they have only allowed three goals in their past five games. It is a grueling test of constant battles and diverse challenges that push opponents to their utmost capacity.
As his team hustles on the field with high intensity, Iraola calmly observes from the dugout, often with his arms crossed, continuously strategizing. The 41-year-old, who was raised near Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery in the Basque Country, is also climbing the rankings. His unique tactical approach, developed under Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Club in Bilbao and refined at Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, is flourishing on the southern coast of England, turning Bournemouth into a formidable opponent every match.
Source: theguardian.com
