Bournemouth's start to the new Premier League season was worrisome, but manager Marco Rose took a broader view, leading to a turnaround in results.
After the first six matches of the season, the Cherries' fans had every reason to feel anxious. The departure of the charismatic Andoni Iraola last summer left a void, and his successor Marco Rose began with three draws and three defeats, prompting media speculation about a possible dismissal.
However, on the south coast, the club remembered Iraola's own history, as he failed to win any of his first nine matches in charge before building a strong team. Bournemouth suffered a major blow in their sixth match, losing 1-5 to Chelsea. Interestingly, the xG metrics told a different story: the Londoners maximised their five goals with an xG of 1.1 (Jordan Henderson scored from a free kick and a long-range shot, with Joao Pedro and a deflected goal from Morgan Rogers adding to their tally), while Rose's side achieved an xG of 1.38 but faced a disappointing defeat.
Misfortunes dogged the team from the outset: in their first game, they led against Manchester City until the 84th minute (loss 1-2), missed a late winner against Everton (1-1), conceded an equaliser from Newcastle in the 88th minute (2-2), and twice let a lead slip against Brentford (2-2) due to individual mistakes.
Despite sitting 18th in the league after six matches, the expected points (xPts) model indicated that Bournemouth were unfairly languishing in the relegation zone: their 8.4 xPts comfortably placed them in mid-table. The coach maintained a steely calm, shielding his players from panic and convincing them that the quality of their play would ultimately yield results.
This strategy paid off brilliantly. Following the defeat at Stamford Bridge, Bournemouth embarked on an impressive run of six consecutive victories across all competitions, not conceding a single goal from open play (the only goal was Henderson's free kick). The team triumphed in the Europa League against Sturm Graz and AC Milan, eliminated Aston Villa from the EFL Cup, and overcame Sunderland, Manchester United and Leeds in the Premier League.
This winning streak has lifted the club to eighth place in the actual league table, and by xPts, the Cherries trail only Arsenal, Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest. Striker Evanilson has hit staggering form, scoring in four consecutive league matches, and the upcoming fixtures appear favourable for continuing their ascent. The club’s patience and Marco Rose's composure proved that the ability to withstand setbacks is more important than succumbing to immediate panic.
