HEAD coach Andoni Iraola believes upcoming friendly matches against Atalanta and FC Lorient may prove “not so useful”, compared to games the club have already played this summer.

Iraola has overseen three pre-season matches as boss, wins against Hibernian and Southampton and a defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Cherries face Italian and French opposition to round off their schedule, before the Premier League begins against West Ham United on August 12.

Asked if he feels he will have his squad where he would like them to be come the first game of the season, Iraola said: “I think until the ball starts moving against West Ham, you never know how you’ll arrive.

“I feel that we’re improving in these pre-season games.

“These two games that we have at home will probably be a little different, because probably both teams will play with a back three.

“So tactically it will not be the same and probably not so useful as the ones we’ve played before.

“Because probably the first game of the season will be against a back four.

“But we will use it to improve physically, to improve small details and I’m really looking forward to playing our first game there.”