You prefer to be there with the players, helping them in every situation,” he said. “But I trust my staff completely.
Andoni Iraola will be forced to watch from the stands when his side travel to West Ham United, after the Bournemouth head coach admitted that avoiding a touchline ban in the Premier League can be a difficult task.
The Spaniard acknowledged the fine margins managers operate under in England’s top flight, where emotions often run high and the intensity on the sidelines mirrors the action on the pitch. Accumulated cautions have resulted in Iraola serving a one-match touchline suspension, meaning he will not be in his usual technical area for the clash at the London Stadium.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Iraola conceded that maintaining composure throughout a demanding campaign is easier said than done.
“It’s not easy,” he admitted. “You are constantly involved, constantly reacting to decisions, and sometimes it’s difficult to control everything. The Premier League is very intense, and as a manager you live every moment.”
Despite the ban, Iraola will remain in close contact with his coaching staff, who will relay instructions from the stands. Modern communication systems allow managers to stay connected throughout the match, though the 42-year-old admitted it is never quite the same as being pitchside.
“You prefer to be there with the players, helping them in every situation,” he said. “But I trust my staff completely. We work together every day, and they know exactly what we want to do.”
The absence of their head coach from the technical area presents an added challenge for Bournemouth as they look to secure a positive result against a West Ham side known for its physicality and direct approach. However, Iraola insists the focus remains firmly on preparation and performance rather than his suspension.
“It’s about the players,” he added. “They are the ones who make the difference on the pitch. My job is to prepare them as well as possible during the week.”
Bournemouth will hope to deliver a disciplined display in East London, aiming to secure valuable points and ensure their manager’s enforced seat in the stands is only a temporary setback.
