Andoni Iraola insists in-form Bournemouth still “need to do something special” to clinch European qualification after climbing to sixth in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
The Spaniard is determined to lead the south-coast club into continental competition for the first time before leaving his role at the end of the season.
Jefferson Lerma’s own goal against his former team and a Junior Kroupi penalty set the hosts on course to stretch their unbeaten run to 15 top-flight games, prior to Rayan putting the result beyond doubt.
Bournemouth host title-chasing Manchester City in Iraola’s final home match as head coach, in between trips to Fulham and Nottingham Forest.
“We are in a good place, physically and mentally,” said Iraola. “The problem is we have three very difficult games.
“We definitely need more points. If we want to get Europe, we need to do something special: win away against a very good team or win at home against City.
“With normal performances we are not getting Europe. We have to find something special.”
Bournemouth fans sang of a potential European adventure under incoming head coach Marco Rose in the closing stages of a comprehensive victory over a poor Palace side.
While the Europa League or the Conference League are more realistic targets, the Cherries retain an outside chance of scraping into the Champions League.
“If you give us the chance to play Conference League, we will sign it, 100 per cent,” said Iraola.
“Other clubs probably have easier games than us. You never know in the Premier League, you can never take anything for granted.
“It’s a massive opportunity. I will do everything to try to grab it. But knowing that it still is very difficult.”
Palace’s visit to Dorset was sandwiched between their two-legged Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, which they lead 3-1 on aggregate.
Eagles boss Oliver Glasner admitted his below-par players were “mentally fatigued” due to the club’s European commitments during a dismal display.
“We’re all disappointed with the performance but the tank was empty today,” said the Austrian, whose side hit a post late on through substitute Ismaila Sarr.
“This is what we have to accept. We know that we can play better. We normally play better, especially than we did in the first half.
“I think we all could see that we just weren’t fresh enough for a Premier League game against a very good Bournemouth team with high intensity.
“We just made so many easy mistakes, so many wrong decisions and this just shows the players were mentally fatigued today and that’s what we have to accept.”
Lerma inexplicably nodded over his own goal-line in the 10th minute when a header from Cherries striker Evanilson appeared to be drifting wide.
Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson then conceded a penalty for an adjudged foul on Marcos Senesi after dropping the ball following a long throw into the box.
Both managers agreed the spot-kick, awarded by referee Robert Jones, was extremely harsh.
“We couldn’t believe it,” said Glasner.
“This is one of the softest contacts but it would be wrong to blame the referee for the defeat. It was our performance but I don’t blame the players.”
