By month’s end, Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner will depart their respective clubs. Having both taken their clubs into uncharted territory, neither’s task is yet complete. Bournemouth’s victory, a game all but won in the first half, was one for the club with their Premier League position as the priority. Bournemouth’s hopes of emulating Palace this season in playing European football for the first time were increased by a deserved, convincing win. The Champions League may even be in reach, Europa League permutations permitting.
“We are in a good spot but need more points,” said Iraola, determined to leave a legacy and delighted by a “most dominant performance … we want to give the players the chance to play in Europe next season, it would be massive.”
Palace played as if something else was on their minds. Perhaps understandably so. On Thursday, in the Europa Conference League semi-final, Selhurst Park will stage the biggest match in 102 years of being home to south London’s Eagles. “Today the tank was empty,” said Glasner.
Where Iraola and Glasner alight next is as yet unrevealed. The Basque is linked with the managerial meat grinders at Chelsea and Manchester United though also with replacing Glasner. The Austrian’s future is yet more opaque. Public complaints against the decision-making of Palace executives may have cooled certain elite clubs’ interest, despite trophies in Frankfurt and south London. Club suits do not react well to insubordination, as this season’s departures of Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca have evidenced.
Tetchy in the technical area at his team’s multiple malfunctions, Glasner may yet sign off with another trophy. His team selection, five changes from Thursday’s first leg against Shakhtar Donetsk, had made plain his ambitions for the time he has left at his current club.
Those in Palace’s starting lineup had their chance to make their case for a role in a European final, should Leipzig be reached. Few convinced though there were energy levels to conserve. A rarity for Iraola over three seasons in Dorset has been the near-fully fit squad he could choose from. Less rare, home draws, following five in succession at the Vitality. A 10th-minute goal owed plenty to casual Palace defending by both Jefferson Lerma in deflecting Evanilson’s header from Alex Scott into the goalmouth and the goalkeeper Dean Henderson’s delay in clawing the ball only once it had crossed the line.
A regular mantra of Bournemouth’s season, even within a 15-game unbeaten run, the longest in Europe’s top five leagues, has been Iraola bemoaning missed chances, victories downgraded to draws. Misses like Evanilson’s, moments later, have been regrettable, recurring features. “A long time coming for us,” said Bournemouth’s captain, Marcus Tavernier, after a most welcome victory. “We want European football; Champions League would be a bonus.”
His manager said: “It’s a nice season, we are doing well, but we need extra, to not give anything to the opposition. In key moments of the season we are improving in this.”
In the Vitality’s bijou away section, Croydon cheer was high, continuing the party atmosphere of an eventful, occasionally fractious season. That continued even when Henderson conceded a penalty after dropping a high ball, baulking Marcos Senesi in desperation to recover. To say Senesi accentuated contact places it mildly. “We couldn’t believe it,” remarked Glasner, also admitting: “It would be wrong to blame the referee for our defeat.”
“Very soft,” offered Iraola, magnanimous in victory. Eli Junior Kroupi converted and sixth place neared actuality. Before half-time arrived, the Palace assistant coach, Paddy McCarthy, raged at set-piece disorganisation. Palace ended the half without a single shot on goal, an expected goals of 0.00 looking generous. “The players tried, but I could see it at set plays and the easy mistakes we made,” said Glasner. “It’s not to blame anyone. It was really overwhelming for us, this experience and the win against Shakhtar.”
Austrian invective was heard in the dressing room, Glasner confirmed: “The message at half-time was that the first half was not us, it’s time to show in the second half we can do better.”
Palace duly displayed far more interest as Bournemouth, with their unhappy habit of surrendering leads by inviting pressure, retreated for a dangerous spell of play. Ryan Christie and David Brooks eventually arrived to lock down midfield. Christie supplied Rayan’s scuffing finish to secure probably the most comfortable win of what, with three games remaining, promises to be a historic season. Even without Iraola, should the departing manager complete his parting objective, further adventures await.
