Two former team-mates went head to head during Saturday night’s 2-2 Premier League draw between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium.
But, after enhancing his growing reputation on the South Coast, a man who has now scored in every one of Europe’s ‘top five’ major leagues credited his manager with masterminding the goal which put Bournemouth 2-1 up with 36 minutes on the clock.
The well-travelled Justin Kluivert, finding himself in acres of space inside the Manchester United penalty area, cut in onto his right foot and fired through the legs of teenager Willy Kambwala. Andre Onana, arguably the Red Devils’ most consistent performer in 2024, could not keep it out, unsighted as the ball zipped past him and into the near post.
And, speaking to ViaPlay at full-time, Kluivert insisted that – despite working alongside Onana at Ajax – it was Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola who spotted a potential weakness in the Cameroonian’s game.
Andre Onana beaten twice as Manchester United draw at Bournemouth
“I was waiting for this pass, because I had already seen that there was a lot of space,” former Roma, RB Leipzig, Valencia and Nice winger Kluivert explains. “So when I got the ball, I only had one thing in mind. And that was to shoot at goal.
“The funny thing about this is that I remembered what the manager said. (Iraola told me) ‘Onana, near post’. So when I got the ball, I knew I was going to shoot into the near post. And, in the end, it was a nice goal.
“The manager gives me tips and I listen to them perfectly.”
Iraola, who spoke glowingly about the performances of Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho during his press conference on Friday, continues to impress during his first season in English football. It’s to the Spaniard’s credit that Bournemouth have seldom looked like dropping into an enthralling relegation battle, The Cherries now 17 points ahead of Luton Town in the drop zone despite playing a game fewer than Rob Edwards’ side.
For Manchester United, meanwhile, even securing Europa League qualification is now turning into a battle. The Red Devils – winning one of their last seven top-flight matches – have now slipped behind Eddie Howe’s Newcastle following another disjointed and largely dismal performance against a side who have now taken four points off United this season.
And, despite Onana’s relative excellence, their goal difference remains in minus figures with only six games of a horrific campaign remaining. The kick-starting of the INEOS era really cannot come soon enough, with Ten Hag one of many who’s future remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Erik ten Hag disappointed
“This result is not enough,” sighs the under-fire Ten Hag, who was indebted to a brace from captain Bruno Fernandes on the South Coast. “We know that. We know when you’re coming into the final stage of the season, this is not enough.
“And the truth is, today, we didn’t deserve more. If you allow them so many chances in the first half, then as a team, you don’t deserve more. You have to take control. Don’t allow them the chances. Take control of the game and score goals for yourself.
“We, in this moment, with all the problems we have, we play to our levels and we can play very good to our levels. But you have to do it over the course of the game until stoppage-time. In the last four games, we drop points wherewe often were in winning positions.
“Not today. We were in losing positions and we fought back.”