Analysis: Why Bournemouth make opponents so uncomfortable

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 23.

Team analysis: AFC Bournemouth

Nobody wants to play Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth team at the moment.

The high-tempo Cherries produced arguably their finest Premier League away performance in a 4-1 success at Newcastle United last time out, extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

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Bristling with aggression and quality, it was a sensational tactical display which belied the fact 10 senior players were missing through injury, including first-choice strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal.

Brilliantly coached, with the clearest of identities, confidence has steadily been growing at Vitality Stadium.

It is little wonder, considering Bournemouth have now beaten Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Newcastle this season.

Their next opponents Nottingham Forest, the league's other surprise package, are the only team who have accrued more points since the end of November.

This match is arguably the most eagerly anticipated of Matchweek 23.

Premier League

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
1	Liverpool LIV	21	+30	50
2	Arsenal ARS	22	+22	44
3	Nott'm Forest NFO	22	+11	44
4	Chelsea CHE	22	+17	40
5	Man City MCI	22	+15	38
6	Newcastle NEW	22	+12	38
7	Bournemouth BOU	22	+10	37

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How has Iraola sparked this form?

Bournemouth’s head coach has a philosophy that centres around making life incredibly uncomfortable for their opponents.

Iraola instructs his players to mark man-to-man all over the pitch, and he will send them forward in packs to hunt for turnovers.

It is that kind of "risk versus reward" approach which has given him a reputation as one of European football’s arch giant-killers.

In the 2019/20 season with Spanish second-tier minnows Mirandes, Iraola guided them to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, beating Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Villarreal en route to that stage.

Then, as boss of Rayo Vallecano, after gaining promotion to LaLiga, the 42-year-old claimed famous scalps against Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“Playing against elite sides gives you opportunities other teams don’t,” said Iraola. “What you have to do is stay on top of them as they bring the ball out and make them so uncomfortable that you can manoeuvre them into losing the ball.”

This pressing game is at the heart of Bournemouth’s incredible success.

This example from last weekend’s thrashing of the Magpies (below) is one of many that could be used to highlight their ball-winning excellence in advanced areas.

With their six attacking players "locked on" to their opposite numbers, Newcastle’s Dan Burn was forced into passing to Bruno Guimaraes, who was closed down and dispossessed by Ryan Christie.

From the turnover, Justin Kluivert scored.

Since Iraola arrived at the club, the way Bournemouth pressurise opponents has undergone a transformation.

They were always a hardworking team, but Iraola’s methods demand that his players congest space and force turnovers much higher up the pitch than they did under previous head coach Gary O’Neil.

Being this proactive has consistently provoked errors, and they now create more transition opportunities than any other Premier League side.

The change is outlined in these staggering numbers.

Bournemouth: O'Neil v Iraola comparison

*rotate mobile device to see table in full

No side have had more shot-ending high turnovers than Iraola’s Cherries, who have taken this aspect of their play up a gear during 2024/25.

Revamping the side into a group that presses with ferocity, the Bournemouth head coach is improving them all the time.

Bournemouth pressing stats seasonal comparison

*rotate mobile device to see table in full
**passes per defensive action, is a metric that measures the intensity of a team's press

What is the impact of this pressing style?

From a defensive standpoint Bournemouth are the toughest nut to crack when they host other teams.

Yes, that is not a misprint. As it stands, their total of seven goals conceded on home turf is the lowest of all 20 Premier League clubs.

At the other end of the pitch, winning the ball back and hurting opponents from those turnovers is also bearing fruit.

They have netted two or more goals in eight of their 12 away fixtures, a record that only leaders Liverpool can eclipse on their travels.

Registering 359 shots in 22 matches, the Cherries have also already beaten their total shot count from 2022/23, the season prior to Iraola’s arrival (358).

They currently rank fourth for shots and shots inside the box, and they are rated the third-best side for Expected Goals (xG) with 43.34.

Bournemouth attacking play 24/25

Given they have scored 7.34 fewer goals than the data suggests, there is no reason why Bournemouth cannot be even more destructive during the final 16 matches.

Once their finishing improves, results should get even better.

Who have been the stars of the show?

There have been standout seasons everywhere you look, but Antoine Semenyo has been especially prominent, scoring six times and providing three assists.

No other Premier League player has fired off more shots at the end of their own ball carries, and the forward has also created 16 chances from those dribbles too.

Most shot-ending ball carries 2024/25

Forest will not be able to man-mark Semenyo, who will be part of a fluid front four in the absence of Evanilson and Unal.

As shown on this map of his shot-ending ball carries, Semenyo travels with the ball effectively from both sides of the pitch.

Left-back Milos Kerkez is another who has had an excellent campaign.

The 21-year-old Hungarian has been a revelation flying up and down the wing, and he delivered a sumptuous finish to score his second goal of the season at St James’ Park last weekend.

His twin assists at home to Manchester City were another highlight for the gifted youngster.

Kerkez's first assist v Man City

Midfield duo Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook are worthy of a mention as terrific all-action ball-winners.

Last week’s hat-trick hero Justin Kluivert is someone else who has enjoyed a great season, as has 19-year-old centre-back Dean Huijsen.

Dependable and excellent in his positioning, the teenager has been on the losing side only once from 11 starts.

In-form teams collide

Forest are in stellar shape themselves, and will be awkward opponents for a Cherries side who prefer to face opponents who want the ball.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side average only 39.2 per cent possession, so there will be fewer opportunities to catch them out with turnovers.

Therefore this will be a contest where Iraola’s men will have more than their own average of 45.9 per cent, meaning their movement and off-the-ball runs will be key.

Their running power was exceptional in that 4-1 victory at Newcastle, and over the course of the campaign Tottenham Hotspur are the only side to have run further, or made more sprints.

Off-the-ball runs 2024/25

*rotate mobile device to see table in full

Tactically, look out for Bournemouth also using a quartet of forwards who will interchange at will.

In the reverse fixture on the opening weekend they adopted that strategy at the City Ground, with Semenyo floating around as the nominal striker, switching places with others.

Dango Ouattara may assume that role this weekend, with a supporting cast of Semenyo, in-form Kluivert and David Brooks rotating positions.

It will be a fascinating battle both on the pitch and off it between two of the best-performing coaches across Europe this season.