Andoni Iraola has described his first Premier League game as special despite admitting nerves playing their part.
It was an overall promising start for the Spaniard, picking up at point at home to West Ham United, receiving lots of plaudits.
His first time managing in England, his style of football caught the eye.
Following the controversial sacking of Gary O’Neil, Iraola has some doubters but will hope to brush them off as the season continues.
What has Andoni Iraola said?
There were pre-match nerves for the Cherries manager, but he felt that this was normal for anyone: “I slept okay. I normally sleep very well! When I wake up, the nerves start.
“You need to have this as a player or a coach. I think there has to be something moving inside, because it’s the way it has to be.”
So the coach believes nerves can be a good thing to set himself and his squad up for the game, and it showed in their performance.
“I was nervous because it was my first Premier League game. For me it was a special day.”
The prospect of playing in the Premier League is a major step in the Basque manager’s career and is clearly relishing the chance.
He was full of praise for the man he replaced saying: “I came after a coach who has been successful here, who made a very good season.
“It was very good from Gary in the past season here. We start now a new season, with also the willingness of finishing successfully.”
He is an ambitious coach with a philosophy that definitely caught the eye.
Despite praise the Cherries’ boss received, he was forthcoming with factors his team could of done better: “We were not pressing so intense. With the ball, I think it was our problem. In the first half we were quite slow to move the ball.”
He appears to be a perfectionist which may see Bournemouth fire themselves up the league this season.
With Liverpool as Iraola’s next game, this will be a true test of his philosophy against an elite side.