Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has blunt response to Premier League title question

View 4 Images

Andoni Iraola has followed the Claudio Ranieri script by insisting his second-placed Bournemouth are not title contenders this season. And the Basque coach, who takes an eight-match unbeaten run to Manchester City on Sunday, said: “Let's talk about goals when March and April arrives”.

Along with the demise of champions Liverpool , the rise of the south coast club is the story of the Premier League season so far.

But while the defending champions lavished over £400million in the transfer market, the Cherries sold four of their back five - Kepa Arrizabalaga, Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez - for £145m and have just got better.

Only Erling Haaland (11) has scored more Premier League goals than Antoine Semenyo (six) this season. And Bournemouth, who finished ninth last season, are playing with the breath taking verve and style of contenders. Continuing their current rate of two points a game would take them to 76 points - enough to finish second last season. But can they go one better for an even bigger shock than in 2016?

Ranieri’s Leicester won the Premier League at odds of 500-1 after playing down his club’s chances till the end.

But asked on Halloween if his club, with a 11,307 capacity at the Vitality Stadium, can spook the big boys and win the title this season, Iraola said: “No, I don’t think we can.”

View 4 Images

Not even if they secure a first ever win at the Etihad Stadium against Pep Guardiola ’s side? No,” he said. “Our goal is not going to change because of one result. And we don't know where we are going to finish.

"My only reference is last season which was our best season ever at this club, ninth with 56 points. If we want to show that we are better than we need to get 57 points. I still see it as very difficult. We now play now City and Villa way.

"We lose two games, we will be 11th. It takes a lot for us to win just one game. And as long as we understand this, then we can be ambitious. And let's talk about goals when March [and] April arrives and we can see, okay, we can arrive here. But now, for me, it’s too early for us.”

View 4 Images

Iraola, who remarkably failed to win any of his first nine Premier League games, added: “I want City to win every game. I want Liverpool to win every game. I want Arsenal to win every game. Those are not our rivals. When they face other teams, I don't want them to lose any points, I want them to win every game because at the end of the season we know we are not going to be there with those teams because they will be in other fights, we will be in another fight.”

Bournemouth are now in a fight to keep Iraoloa. They might be second but he is arguably the best coach in the Premier League right now. And the Spaniard, who joined from Rayo Vallecano in 2023 when his deal expired, is out of contract at the end of the season and sure to be in high demand in the Premier League and back home.

View 4 Images

Billionaire US owner Bill Foley visited for last weekend’s win over Forest but Iraoloa claimed a new deal was not discussed.

The Spaniard said no fan had ever asked about winning the title - or about renewing his contract which is now a weekly topic at his press conferences.

“People are quite respectful,” he smiled. “Yeah, definitely more than you! There will be ones who want me here or the ones who want me want another coach. This always happens in football. I feel very, very well treated here and people treat me very well even when we were not winning. I hope it continues that everyone treats me really well.”

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.