Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has shed light on a moment that caught the attention of fans during a recent match, when television cameras captured Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha in an animated discussion on the pitch shortly after Gakpo netted his second goal of the season.
The clip, which quickly circulated on social media, showed the two wingers deep in conversation immediately after the celebration, appearing to negotiate a swap of positions. Ngumoha, who had started the match on the right flank, was seen making his way to the left wing—his preferred side—following the exchange.
Asked about the incident, Iraola confirmed that such mid-game adjustments are a normal part of his side's tactical approach, particularly when it comes to how his wide players interact with the opposition's full-backs.
"In the case of our wingers, we will have these moments in games where they change sides," Iraola told reporters. "If we see something is not working or if we can damage one of the opponents on the other side."
The manager explained that the timing of the conversation was linked to a substitution on the opposing side, where Destiny Udogie had been replaced by Andy Robertson at left-back. According to Iraola, different full-backs require different approaches from the wingers marking them.
"We were talking, it was the moment after they changed their left-back from Destiny Udogie to Andy Robertson and the demands are different so you have to adjust," he said. "Some full backs are more offensive, others are better from building from farther."
Rather than viewing the on-field discussion as a concern, Iraola welcomed the initiative shown by his players, describing the communication between Gakpo and Ngumoha as a positive sign of tactical awareness within the squad.
"It's good that they start to communicate together," he said. "Sometimes I don't mind if they come to me during the game and say maybe we should change, sometimes we will, sometimes we won't, there are other factors. But I think it's good that all the wingers are doing the effort of playing both sides and more or less are doing a good job."
Beyond the tactical discussion, Iraola also turned his attention to the technical quality of Gakpo's finish, which he suggested defied conventional football terminology. The Dutch forward's strike involved a bounce before the ball rose and then dipped again as he made contact, a sequence Iraola felt could not be accurately classified as either a volley or a half-volley.
"I think we need a different word because I don't think it's a volley and I don't think it's a half-volley," Iraola explained. "I don't think it's a volley because the ball bounces and I don't think it's a half-volley because a half-volley is when the trajectory of the ball goes upwards, for me, and you hit it and you score."
He elaborated further on the unusual trajectory that made the finish so difficult to categorize. "But this one was like bounce, then goes up, downwards again and you hit it. We need to find a third word I think."
Gakpo's goal, along with the light-hearted moment involving his conversation with Ngumoha, added an intriguing subplot to the match, showcasing both the technical quality on display and the tactical flexibility that Iraola continues to encourage among his attacking players.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (football).