September 20, 2024

Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool: What O’Neil said

Bournemouth #Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil, speaking to BT Sport: “A big result, obviously. Smiling, I haven’t smiled after games that much recently so that’s been coming, to be honest.

“Manchester City and Arsenal were two performances that the boys should have been proud of and we didn’t take anything from them. But today, fine margins go in our favour and we beat one of the best teams in England.

“That’s what it takes for us, we always leave everything out there. They left everything out there last week and I answered a lot of questions in the week about if I needed to pick the pads up after the late goal at Arsenal. The lads showed my answer today for 90 minutes.”

On change of formation: “We will change shape whenever we think it suits an opposition. For Arsenal and Manchester City, the shape helped us to stay in both games and today the different shape helped us win it.”

On impact of the goal: “We had a couple of other real big moments as well. I’m a little bit disappointed we didn’t score more than one. But then the penalty that was or wasn’t went if our favour with him missing. Fine margins but we’re competitive, we’ve had a right go against a good team and today – as the lads deserved – it went our way.”

On Dango Ouattara: “He was a threat and did a real diligent job as well, Andy Robertson attacks a lot so he tracked him and still managed to beat him back the other way in a race.

“I thought there were some top performances. Lloyd Kelly hasn’t done a lot of work recently, he’s been out a while with two fairly serious injuries and to come back in with that performance against Mohamed Salah shows everything that he has the potential to be. I’m pleased for him.”

On nerves late on: “I think it will always feel like that. When you’re playing a good side, they will throw men forward, the ball is going to bounce around in your box and you’re going to need to block things and for things to go your way a little bit.

“Today we were able to get out, counter a bit and I didn’t feel under any real threat. We were solid and apart from balls in the box, percentage things, I felt we were fairly well organised.”

On staying up: “I had belief and I’m sure the boys did as well. But it they didn’t then they can certainly believe me after today.”

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