Andoni Iraola has ‘zero complaints’ about AFC Bournemouth players
BOSS Andoni Iraola insists he does have the players he needs to implement his style of football, but admitted: “We are probably not as mature a team as others.”
Defensive frailties reared their ugly head again as Cherries were swept aside 3-0 by Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
It leaves Iraola’s men still winless and in the Premier League relegation zone, after eight matches.
‘You have to be worried’ – Iraola’s take on heavy Everton defeat
Keeper Neto can do no more according to Iraola
Sean Dyche’s Toffees were gifted the opening goal when 21-year-old Illia Zabarnyi’s slip allowed James Garner in to score. Goalkeeper Neto then received some criticism for his part in Jack Harrison’s second goal.
Abdoulaye Doucoure added a third in the second half, with Everton squandering a host of further opportunities, centre-back Marcos Senesi fortunate some of his individual errors were not punished.
It has been a worrying theme of recent weeks, with the likes of Milos Kerkez and Max Aarons also among those at fault for key goals.
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Only rock-bottom Sheffield United have a worse defensive record in the league than Cherries this season, Iraola’s side conceding 18 league goals so far.
Asked if he has the players he needs to implement the style of football he wants to play at Cherries, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I have zero complaints about the players.
“You talk about Zaba making the mistake for the first goal, I am more than happy having Zaba in the team. I trust him as a centre-back.
“But it is true we are probably not as mature a team as others, so we have to grow quickly.
“We have to, because the competition doesn’t wait for anyone. We cannot make these kind of mistakes, because they take you out of the games.”
Iraola brought stalwart Adam Smith into the side for his first league start of the season at Everton, replacing Max Aarons.
Asked if that call was to add more experience to a young back-line, Iraola said: “Adam Smith played instead of Max and gave us some character, also different characteristics.
“But Zaba, Max (23), Milos (19) that have started all the games, they are young defenders.
“We have to accept that sometimes they are going to make mistakes.
“But we are more than happy for them to be part of the team.
“I am putting them in, so I have to take the responsibility.
“I think they are players that can give us very good things also.”
Cherries now face two weeks without a fixture, before welcoming Wolverhampton Wanderers to Vitality Stadium on Saturday, October 21.
Wolves are managed by Gary O’Neil, who was sacked at Cherries and replaced by Iraola over the summer.
Asked what needs to happen between now and the Wolves game, Iraola said: “For us, now every game is a must-win game, because we are in the relegation spots.
“You need every point.
“We need to prepare well. We will have half a team, because the other half will be with their national teams.
“We will try to recover some injured players, that are important for us and get ready again for a tough battle against Wolves.”
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