ANDONI Iraola played down talk of expectations rising at Cherries, insisting there is “zero guarantee” the club will do better next season than they have done this term.

In Iraola’s first campaign in charge, Cherries have already registered a club-record Premier League points haul and sit in the top half of the table.

Talk has now turned to whether he can take the club into Europe in the future, particularly with owner Bill Foley stating that as an end goal during his time in charge.

But Iraola insisted just because things have turned out well this season, it does not mean things will necessarily get even better in 2024-25.

Cherries’ head coach said: “I don't know. Nobody knows. At the end there is no guarantee because we've done this this season, next season we are going to be even better. Zero guarantee.

“For me, we have to start again next season.

“Probably the team will change. I don't know if it’s going to change a lot or not.

“But we will have to start from zero, like all the teams and try to keep pushing.

“It's good for the players individually, because very young players have added a lot of experience. I’m thinking of Zaba, Milos (Kerkez), Dango (Ouattara), Alex Scott, players that are 20, 21, 22 years old, that are adding experience and for sure they are more prepared.

“But collectively we will have to start from zero next season again.”

Put to him expectations will be higher going into next season, Iraola responded: “I don't believe a lot in expectations.

“At the beginning of the season we were, I think, the third favourite to get relegated. I think it was Luton, Sheffield (United) and us. Then Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

“We are 10th.

“It is one thing what we think before the season starts. At the end of the day, the table will put you in your position.

“The expectation before it starts can affect the atmosphere outside.

“But really, I don't believe a lot in ‘because we've been very good, next season will be going to be better’.

“No, we'll have to do very well again and try to improve if we want to get better.

“Otherwise it will be worse because other teams for sure they are going to improve and we will have to show it again.”

He added: “I'm happy with how we've improved, how we've kept with same style, getting better results.

“We have very, very good stats. We are close to the team we want, but we still have a lot of things to improve.”