As Saturday evening approaches, all eyes turn to the Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Chelsea. For Bournemouth fans, there’s added excitement as their summer signing, Evanilson, could make his first start for the club. The Brazilian forward, who arrived from Porto, is highly anticipated by both the team and its supporters. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola spoke about the new signing, shedding light on his progress since joining the squad.
Evanilson didn’t travel to South America for the international break, which allowed Iraola and his coaching staff to spend valuable time with him on an individual level. “It’s been very good for him because we could spend more time with him individually, analysing things that we will ask from him, to understand better collectively what we will try to do,” said Iraola. This one-on-one time has been crucial for helping Evanilson integrate into the team’s playing style and develop a deeper understanding of the tactics that Bournemouth employ.
Off the field, it’s been a period of adjustment for Evanilson as well. The striker has been able to settle in personally, finding a home and enrolling his daughter in school, which Iraola believes has allowed him to feel more comfortable and relaxed. The manager praised Evanilson’s contributions so far, noting that his performances against Newcastle and West Ham were particularly strong, although he struggled somewhat in the match against Everton.
Evanilson has played around 120 minutes of Premier League football since his arrival, and while fans are eager to see him hit the back of the net, Iraola isn’t overly focused on his goal tally just yet. “We all want him to score straight away, but for me, I’m happy with the performances he has had. I’m not focusing on whether he is going to score or not. I want him to help us, and that’s what we’ll ask him [against Chelsea].”
As Bournemouth prepares to take on Chelsea, there’s no doubt that Evanilson will be eager to make an impact. His potential first start offers an exciting opportunity to showcase his abilities and further cement his place in Iraola’s plans. Whether he finds the net or not, his contributions on the pitch will be crucial as Bournemouth looks to secure a positive result against a Chelsea side hungry for points.