The Cherries sit in second in the Premier League before Sunday's visit to Manchester City but Andoni Iraola insists they cannot cause another huge Premier League shock
Andoni Iraola has insisted his second-placed Bournemouth cannot win the Premier League
Andoni Iraola has insisted his second-placed Bournemouth cannot win the Premier League
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Andoni Iraola has followed the Claudio Ranieri script by insisting his second-placed Bournemouth are not title contenders this season. And the Basque coach, who takes an eight-match unbeaten run to Manchester City on Sunday, said: “Let's talk about goals when March and April arrives”.
Along with the demise of champions Liverpool, the rise of the south coast club is the story of the Premier League season so far.
But while the defending champions lavished over £400million in the transfer market, the Cherries sold four of their back five - Kepa Arrizabalaga, Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez - for £145m and have just got better.
Only Erling Haaland (11) has scored more Premier League goals than Antoine Semenyo (six) this season. And Bournemouth, who finished ninth last season, are playing with the breath taking verve and style of contenders. Continuing their current rate of two points a game would take them to 76 points - enough to finish second last season. But can they go one better for an even bigger shock than in 2016?
Ranieri’s Leicester won the Premier League at odds of 500-1 after playing down his club’s chances till the end.
But asked on Halloween if his club, with a 11,307 capacity at the Vitality Stadium, can spook the big boys and win the title this season, Iraola said: “No, I don’t think we can.”
Claudio Ranieri caused the biggest shock in the Premier League era when he led Leicester to the 2016 title
Claudio Ranieri caused the biggest shock in the Premier League era when he led Leicester to the 2016 title
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Not even if they secure a first ever win at the Etihad Stadium against Pep Guardiola’s side? No,” he said. “Our goal is not going to change because of one result. And we don't know where we are going to finish.
"My only reference is last season which was our best season ever at this club, ninth with 56 points. If we want to show that we are better than we need to get 57 points. I still see it as very difficult. We now play now City and Villa way.
"We lose two games, we will be 11th. It takes a lot for us to win just one game. And as long as we understand this, then we can be ambitious. And let's talk about goals when March [and] April arrives and we can see, okay, we can arrive here. But now, for me, it’s too early for us.”
MONACO, MONACO - OCTOBER 1: Coach of Manchester City Pep Guardiola during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 football match between AS Monaco (ASM) and Manchester City at Stade Louis II on October 1, 2025 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola has never lost at home to Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth
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Iraola, who remarkably failed to win any of his first nine Premier League games, added: “I want City to win every game. I want Liverpool to win every game. I want Arsenal to win every game. Those are not our rivals. When they face other teams, I don't want them to lose any points, I want them to win every game because at the end of the season we know we are not going to be there with those teams because they will be in other fights, we will be in another fight.”
Bournemouth are now in a fight to keep Iraoloa. They might be second but he is arguably the best coach in the Premier League right now. And the Spaniard, who joined from Rayo Vallecano in 2023 when his deal expired, is out of contract at the end of the season and sure to be in high demand in the Premier League and back home.
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Head Coaches Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace with Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and AFC Bournemouth at Selhurst Park on April 19, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola are both out of contract at the end of the season
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Billionaire US owner Bill Foley visited for last weekend’s win over Forest but Iraoloa claimed a new deal was not discussed.
The Spaniard said no fan had ever asked about winning the title - or about renewing his contract which is now a weekly topic at his press conferences.
“People are quite respectful,” he smiled. “Yeah, definitely more than you! There will be ones who want me here or the ones who want me want another coach. This always happens in football. I feel very, very well treated here and people treat me very well even when we were not winning. I hope it continues that everyone treats me really well.”
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