What Andoni Iraola has already admitted about ‘amazing’ Tottenham ahead of Bournemouth fixture
Tottenham host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth in their third Premier League fixture of the season.
Iraola was linked with the Tottenham job in May before Ange Postecoglou had even been sacked.
The Spaniard ruled out the move at the time and was insistent that he was happy with Bournemouth and was developing the project he had already started on the south coast.
Tottenham shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in March after Iraola got the better of Postecoglou at the Vitality Stadium earlier in the 2024/25 campaign.
“I enjoy watching them” – Andoni Iraola on Tottenham
Since Tottenham switched Postecoglou for Thomas Frank, things have gone well for Spurs.
Tottenham beat Manchester City 2-0 last weekend to make it two clean sheets from two games, a feat that Postecoglou struggled to manage.
The Australian achieved two clean sheets in a row just once, beating Brentford and Manchester United 2-0 and 1-0 respectively in February.
It didn’t stop opposition managers from praising Tottenham, with Iraola particularly full of praise for the Lilywhites.
- Iraola has managed one win, one draw, and two defeats vs Tottenham
- Tottenham can achieve three clean sheets in a row for the first time since Nuno Espirito Santos was in charge in August 2021
In December 2024, Iraola spoke about Tottenham before they faced each other, saying: “Stats-wise, they are amazing. They are top scorers, they have so many offensive threats, and I enjoy watching them.”
When he was linked with the Spurs job, the Spaniard was quick to downplay any links, saying: “I want to do my job the best I can.
“I don’t know how far we can go, or where we will finish. I want to do my job the best I can. If I don’t do the job very well, they will find someone else. It’s like this in every job. I’m really happy here.”
Against a new manager in Frank, it will be interesting to see how the Bournemouth boss sets up.
Thomas Frank has strong record vs Andoni Iraola
Brentford versus Bournemouth always made for an interesting battle when Frank and Iraola were in charge.
Frank repeatedly outclassed the Cherries, as he became obsessed with making his side play with a clear identity, a strong press, and well-worked set pieces that often caught the opposition off guard.
The Dane has recorded three wins and one draw in four games against his Spanish counterpart.
However, Iraola’s side have had a successful two seasons in England, and Bournemouth are on a high after they equalled their highest ever points tally last season.
The Cherries finished 18 points above Tottenham, with Iraola becoming known for his high-intensity football and playing without fear.
Spurs will be expected to get the better of Bournemouth, but against such tough opposition, they will struggle to keep goals out of their own net.
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