Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola praised Everton after the Blues earned a 1-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium
Andoni Iraola was frustrated with his side's defeat
Andoni Iraola was frustrated with his side's defeat(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
View Image
Andoni Iraola praised Everton for a performance that stunted Bournemouth’s ability to play on their own terms on Tuesday night.
The Cherries boss expressed disappointment in his team’s display in the 1-0 defeat to the Blues and highlighted the absence of key players as part of the context for the loss.
But he also offered credit to David Moyes and his players for a gameplan that prevented the hosts from shifting the match towards their strengths.
He said: “I think in a game where everything was going almost in slow motion - I think we are not the best in this kind of game. We like, or we are better, in other scenarios and we haven't been good enough to get the scenario that we wanted. Especially for me because we've not been taking the risks on the ball or [we have been] playing too safe or not progressing enough on the ball.
“And I think if you don't demand the Everton players defensively, they are fresh, Grealish and Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Alcaraz, if they recover the ball and they are fresh, it's very difficult, they can do their things and then we don't play as we want.”
Iraola’s comments about the difficulty of playing a team that can dictate the "rhythm" of a match echoed those of Moyes after Everton’s defeat to Newcastle United at the weekend, when he conceded his side had been unable to prevent the Magpies from dominating the clash.
Three days later, it was Everton that enjoyed that impact over a Bournemouth team that was the youngest starting XI they had fielded this season.
Asked whether this was down to Everton or his own side, he said: “I give all the credit in the sense that [Everton have] done very well what they were trying to do, but we've been poor also. I think both things.”