**Brentford**have bounced back from a 3-1 defeat on opening matchday to win twice in four days, sending **Bournemouth**packing from the Carabao Cup second round. Andoni Iraola is integrating new members of his squad, but he recognised he might have "changed too much" on this occasion.
‘We have to do it like this’
Iraola was honest in his assessment that the group failed to hit the required standard in their work.
“I think we haven't been at the level that the competition required. If you want to go far in this competition, you have to give a lot in these cup competitions and we haven't been ourselves.”
The Basque believed he had decided on an improper balance in the lineup. After a 1-0 win over **Wolves**on the weekend, he rotated eight players, and that proved to be disruptive to their rhythm.
“I think probably I changed too much. I think there are a lot of players know that still they have to grow a lot to improve, to get more ready to the level that we are going to demand from them.”
There were starts for Ben Doak, who moved from Liverpool, Amine Adli, an arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, and Eli Junior Kroupi, who came back from his spell at Lorient. These are three talented players, but everyone needs to be on the same page to succeed, and gelling takes time.
“It's difficult because once the competition is already going, you want to give minutes to the players, but you still have to continue competing. But we have to do it like this. There is no other way.”
Iraola indicated why managers will prefer to bring in players well before the competitive contests roll around. Now, everything he tries has the risk of impacting one of the targets for the next nine months.
“We've already passed the preseason, so now every trial has consequences. And today we could say that we haven't collectively played well from our side.”
‘We knew we were going to suffer’
**Bournemouth**battled back to a level score at **Anfield**before losing 4-2 against reigning champions Liverpool. They then registered their first victory of the new Premier League season in front of their fans at Dean Court. For Iraola, the performance, as well as the result, would represent a step back.
“We were coming from two very good games and today has been a step backwards. We changed a lot, the team and probably when it doesn't work, I am the first to blame. But we lacked some aggression without in our press, with the ball to be more vertical to this sense of urgency. I haven't felt it today.”
He particularly pointed out the differences in the sharpness with which his side used the ball.
“I finished very happy how we moved the ball. But today we've been very far from that level.”
At their best, the Cherries can cut through teams with their willingness to keep running and the clever combinations in the final third. The absence of any constructive rhythm ruined the attempts to attack.
“I think not that one or two players have made mistakes or they haven't been at the level. I think overall we haven't played well. I think the game overall has been, I wouldn't say poor, but not the highest level game, let's say. No, because it was stopping all the time. We couldn't put our rhythm.”
It became harder to handle the Bees when they went 1-0 up in the 34th minute. Kristoffer Ajer knocked down the ball from the air, and Fabio Carvalho stole a march on the defence to score.
Thomas Frank has gone, but his set-piece coach, Keith Andrews, is now in the dugout, and he still has the defensive unit that played for the Dane. The hosts had to be better prepared for such moments.
“You have to adapt to this kind of game. Long throws, free kicks. We made the first mistake in the first goal. We knew we were going to suffer with set pieces. And then it becomes more difficult.”