"Bournemouth were raided for their star players in the last two transfer windows but are now in pole position to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history. Despite losing players valued at 202m last summer - including three members of their starting back four - and seeing their best forward Antoine Semenyo depart in January, the Cherries are on course for their highest finish in the league. On top of losing those key performers, the club, players and fans know manager Andoni Iraola will leave at the end of the season. Yet on they march toward a first season of European football, with a 1-0 win at Fulham the latest impressive result."
""We are fighting to have this reward. You have to win a lot of points to get into Europe," Iraola told Match of the Day after the win at Craven Cottage. "We have such a good relationship with the players and the club. The process has been so clear and honest. Everyone knows what will happen next season." It follows a remarkable 16-game unbeaten run, which has only been bettered across Europe's top leagues by Bayern Munich (18) and AC Milan (24) this season."
""Invention does not consist in creating out of the void, but out of chaos," Frankenstein author Mary Shelley once wrote, and that sentiment has applied to the Cherries this season. When Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid, Milos Kerkez moved to Liverpool and Ilya Zabarnyi signed for Paris StGermain, it looked chaotic. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also rejected the option of making his loan move permanent, opting instead to join Arsenal as a back-up in a 5m transfer from Chelsea. In response, Bournemouth signed Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea for 25m. They also reinforced their defence"
Bournemouth have been raided for key players in two transfer windows but are now positioned to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history. They lost players worth 202m last summer, including three members of their starting back four, and their best forward Antoine Semenyo left in January. Manager Andoni Iraola is expected to depart at season’s end, yet the team continues to progress. A 1-0 win at Fulham adds to a 16-game unbeaten run. Europa League or Conference League qualification is increasingly likely, while Champions League qualification remains possible depending on league position and Aston Villa’s Europa League outcome. The club’s clear, honest process and strong player relationships are credited alongside defensive reinforcements.
Read at www.bbc.com
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