Andoni Iraola: Getting Bournemouth into Europe is a way of thanking everyone

Departing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola thought it was “almost impossible” to take the club into Europe this season after his side secured sixth place with a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest.

Morgan Gibbs-White gave the home side a first-half lead with a free-kick – his 18th goal in all competitions this term.

Bournemouth got themselves level nine minutes after the break courtesy of Marcus Tavernier’s strike but it was not enough for the Cherries to secure a Champions League place.

They will, however, play in the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.

Iraola, who announced in April that he would be leaving, helped Bournemouth finish the campaign on an 18-match unbeaten run and the 43-year-old could not stop smiling in his post-match press conference.

He admitted he did not want the run to end in his final game, and said: “I feel so happy because I could not ask for much more.

“I didn’t want to lose today, I wanted to finish sixth. Also I wanted to finish the season without losing so we can do the second half of the season unbeaten. This is the most difficult achievement we’ve got.

“I enjoyed every second with the fans, with the players. It’s nice to finish like this, something to celebrate. Honestly happy and in the changing room we were celebrating like we should.

“I knew it would be almost impossible to get Europe but the owner told me we want to stay in the Premier League, but I wanted Europe.

“For me to finish this season giving back to the owner, players, supporters, this European qualification is just one way of thanking everyone.”

The Forest fans even stayed behind to applaud Iraola and his team off.

The Spaniard added: “Class from the Forest fans. Forest have done it last season, in