The South Coast side were expected to be at best, a mid-table side, looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone.
However, thanks to some stellar performances from the likes of Newcastle priority signing Antoine Semenyo, and Liverpool summer target Milos Kerkez, the Cherries have played themselves into contention for Champions League football.
Bournemouth have faltered in recent games, losing to Wolves 1-0 on Saturday (22 February) and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Tuesday (25 February).
With those recent losses, the Cherries now sit seventh in the Premier League table, three points behind Chelsea in fourth.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Special, Paul Merson sung the praises of Bournemouth, and spoke about the amazing story it would be if they, or Brighton, qualified for the Champions League, saying (25 February, 7.20pm): “The size of the club, 12,000 every week, that’s a big difference to everybody else that 12,000.
“So I would say Bournemouth [is more impressive] but Brighton as well would be an amazing story.”
| 2024/25 Premier League standings | Games played | Goal difference | Points |
| 1. Liverpool | 27 | +38 | 64 |
| 2. Arsenal | 26 | +28 | 53 |
| 3. Nottingham Forest | 26 | +11 | 47 |
| 4. Chelsea | 27 | +16 | 46 |
| 5. Man City | 26 | +15 | 44 |
| 6. Newcastle | 26 | +10 | 44 |
| 7. Bournemouth | 27 | +13 | 43 |
| 8. Brighton | 27 | +5 | 43 |
Rangers legend Boyd then warned that Bournemouth must qualify, or else risk losing Iraola, saying: “You can more or less guarantee if they don’t get it the manager won’t be there, because there will be big guns in Europe looking at him. The job he’s done is incredible.”
One of the harshest realities for teams like Bournemouth, is that you can be too successful for your own good.
Fans of the South Coast side are only a few seasons removed from watching their team play in the Championship against the likes of Peterborough and Barnsley, but next season they could be going up against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
However, if they do qualify for Europe, or even if they don’t, many of their star players are likely to leave, and it will be a tough task to replace them.
Dean Huijsen has been a rock at the back for Bournemouth, but he is one of a number of players that has been looked at by Europe’s elite, and the recruitment department will have their work cut out for them trying to rebuild this summer.
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