The Andoni Iraola Newcastle United press conference has taken place.
The Bournemouth boss speaking to journalists.
Andoni Iraola talking ahead of Saturday’s match at St James’ Park.
Bournemouth and Newcastle United are two of the nine clubs separated by only six points, sixth down to fourteenth.
A win for United would take them back above the Cherries.
At his Friday morning pre-match press conference though, it was dominated by one subject.
Andoni Iraola asked why he has decided to leave Bournemouth: “It has been a decision that has taken me a lot of time to take, it has not been a clear decision. Always during this process this season I have been talking to the club about all the situations and they were aware that this could happen. There is not always one main reason, I think that the decision I have taken is because probably I don’t want to risk the feeling I have right now of satisfaction of these three seasons. You try to envisage yourself in a possible fourth or fifth season and everything costs more. We as human beings we get tired of watching always the same face and I suppose I have decided that this was the right moment to put an end to this journey, which for me has been really, really special.”
Andoni Iraola asked about the timing of his departure: “I think that the club is in a great place. I have things in this club that I will not find anywhere else. I come every day to work here with a smile and this is very valuable for me but as managers you learn. You have experience as a player because you have a lot of managers who have to choose very well when to start, where to start. It is a matter of feeling and there is a moment where you have to take the decision and this is the decision I have taken. I prefer to make the mistake of thinking maybe I could have stayed one year more, rather than thinking I have stayed one year too much. There is a small margin you are playing with and it is what it is.”
The outgoing Bournemouth boss then asked the obvious question.
Andoni Iraola quizzed on where he will go now? “The decision was not about any other club, there was no other club involved, it was about either continuing here or not continuing here. I don’t know what I want to do next season. I don’t know if I am going to coach a team, a club. I don’t know if I am going to coach an international team. I don’t know if I am going to coach in this continent. I have no idea what is going to happen. I don’t know if you are going to believe me but it is the truth. And also I don’t have any rush to want to know it. I have taken a big decision for me, now I want to focus on what we have in this moment. These next six games are massive for us.”