File photo dated 03-03-2024 of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has signed a new two-year contract at the Vitality Stadium. Issue date: Monday May 13, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Bournemouth. Photo credit should read Richard Sellers/PA Wire.
Bournemouth signing believes they have to ‘take advantage’ of Andoni Iraola – Can’t help but sing his praises
Bournemouth summer signing Julian Araujo has heaped praise on manager Andoni Iraola, believing the club need to ‘take advantage’ of having him.
The 23-year-old was one of several new faces to arrive in a summer of strengthening for the Cherries after an impressive first season under Iraola last year.
He arrived from Rayo Vallecano to replace Gary O’Neil in a controversial move at the time and endured a difficult start to life in England as his side struggled to adapt to the way he wanted them to play.
When that adaptation happened, though, it was full steam ahead for the Cherries, who went on an impressive run of form that saw them shoot up the table and establish themselves as one of the inform sides in the league.
That resulted in a superb campaign that saw them finishing 12th, comfortably clear of the relegation battle some had predicted and only a point outside the top ten.
Iraola was credited with masterminding that success and it seems he’s quickly earned the respect of his summer signing too.
“He’s someone who brings out the best in you every day in training,” he said.
“He brings out your best level, the whole staff, not just him, has his ideas very clear, he knows what he wants, what he wants from us and it’s something we can take advantage of because he’s someone very young, with a lot of ambition and we are a very young dressing room, with a lot of ambition.
“We have to take advantage of him because he already took the club to the top last season and this year we want to get to the top as much as possible, we have everything to get to the top and Andoni is a top coach with whom we can learn, he was also a full-back and played defence and he helps us a lot.”
