AFC Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara on learning new left-back role
CHERRIES winger Dango Ouattara admitted it was tough learning a completely new position but shared he was happy to do whatever it takes to help his side.
Burkinabe international Ouattara joined Cherries as an out-and-out winger in January 2023 from sister side FC Lorient, but this season he has been deployed at left-back during an injury crisis that saw regulars Lloyd Kelly and Milos Kerkez sidelined in December.
Ouattara was drafted in for his first league start against Luton Town since a combination of injury and a call-up to African Cup of Nations limited his availability for Cherries in January.
He played the full 90 minutes as Cherries came from three goals behind at half-time to end up 4-3 winners at Vitality Stadium.
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Translated from his native French, Ouattara told the Daily Echo: “It was a good game in the second half. We were trailing and the coach made the changes that pushed us.
“Therefore it’s a good match.
“At half-time, he (head coach Andoni Iraola) tried to push us.
“We were trailing, he made some changes which helped us offensively. I thought it was good.”
His substitute performance against Sheffield United at the weekend, Ouattara scoring and providing an assist as Cherries salvaged a draw, was enough to convince his head coach that he should start at left-back over a natural defender in the form of Kerkez.
It is the first time Iraola has turned to the winger to play ahead of a left-back instead of being a stand-in option.
Although Cherries’ defence were picked off by a clinical Luton on the counter in the first half, Iraola kept faith in the Burkinabe, Ouattara playing the entirety of the match as his side completed a remarkable turnaround.
