Marcus Tavernier's equaliser extended Bournemouth's unbeaten Premier League run to 18 games, but it was not enough to secure a Champions League spot as results elsewhere denied Andoni Iraola's side. The Cherries will instead compete in the Europa League next season, their first European campaign in club history.
Match Summary
Nottingham Forest took the lead through Morgan Gibbs-White's free-kick, but Bournemouth levelled when Adrien Truffert's burst down the left set up Tavernier for a first-time finish. Despite dominating possession, Bournemouth could not find a winner, and goals from Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Liverpool's failure to beat Brentford meant the Cherries finished sixth.
Gibbs-White's Response
Gibbs-White, overlooked for England's squad despite 19 goal contributions, said: "I know I have done more than enough to be in the squad. I just got on the wrong side of someone's opinion." He added that he respected manager Thomas Tuchel's decision and is ready to bounce back.
Iraola's Future
Iraola, whose name was chanted by fans, said he will take time to decide his next move. He is linked with Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen. "I want to continue as a head coach, we will see what we will decide," he stated.
Bournemouth's Rise
Four years ago in the Championship and 17 years ago on the brink of bankruptcy, Bournemouth's journey to European football is remarkable. Iraola called the unbeaten run "the most incredible achievement." The club will celebrate with a staff event on the beachfront.
Nottingham Forest, who cycled through four managers this season, also reached a Europa League semi-final. Both teams have enjoyed remarkable campaigns.
