ANDONI Iraola has been impressed with Marcus Tavernier’s contributions at Cherries so far this season.
The Englishman has played more than 80 minutes in each of AFC Bournemouth’s Premier League games this term and scored in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle at the Vitality Stadium.
But Tavernier has looked bright throughout the season so far.
He went close to opening the scoring in the opening exchanges against Chelsea, when his searing effort from outside the box on the left hit the crossbar.
The 25-year-old has continued to impress Basque boss Iraola and has become something of an ever-present for Cherries this term.
“I think he's playing very well,” Iraola, speaking before the Liverpool game, said.
“He's having chances. He's finishing, he's arriving from the crosses the other side. But I think he past season also was very good from him.
“I was very happy and that's why he played so many minutes and he gives us more things, not only the finishing.
“It would be amazing if he could have even better numbers because I think he has the ability to also do the numbers, but I don't want him to lose some of his work because he has to make the numbers because I think at the end, even if better numbers will make him a worse player.
“So, we ask him to do a lot of things and I want him to continue doing these things and if we can add more numbers like everyone else, much better.”
Iraola said that Tavernier has a lot of trust in his own ability, as well as good self-confidence to impact games.
“Probably that's why he sometimes gets frustrated because I think he knows what he can do,” he said. “In football, sometimes it doesn't happen. You want to do a lot of things and then you don't have good actions.
“You make a big mistake that gives advantage to the opposition.
“Sometimes he gets frustrated, but it's good. You know, there are some players, when they lose a game in trainings, just even if it's a small training games and they don't win, they finish training angry.
“And Tav is one of these players. He wants to win. He wants everything to be perfect.”
Iraola believes this attitude will help Tavernier progress and improve, as well as helping the team too.
Tavernier joined Bournemouth from Middlesborough in 2022, having progressed through their youth setup.
Cherries host Southampton next in the Premier League on Monday night, September 30.
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