Bournemouth’s Manager Andoni Iraola Prepares for Clash Against Manchester United

Bournemouth’s head coach Andoni Iraola addressed the media as his team gears up to face Manchester United.

Cherries’ Struggles in Away Matches

The Cherries have only secured victory in one of their seven league matches on the road this season, encountering four losses along the way as they travel to Manchester.

Iraola’s squad has experienced defeats in four of their last six Premier League outings and is looking to recover against a United side they previously overwhelmed with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

The Spanish manager confirmed that defender Marcos Senesi will be available for Monday’s match, a significant boost for Bournemouth’s faltering defense.

“I hope he can be part of the team because we know how important he is for us,” Iraola stated, emphasizing the need to manage Senesi’s fitness while expressing optimism about his participation.

Forward Semenyo Under Transfer Speculation

Iraola also discussed forward Semenyo, who has been connected to possible transfers to both United and Liverpool. He is currently struggling with his form, and questions arose regarding whether the transfer rumors are impacting his performance.

“We can’t solely judge with numbers. He’s not just our striker; he’s a winger who contributes considerably with goals and assists. He was our biggest threat against Chelsea recently,” Iraola explained.

“I don’t think the transfer talk has affected him significantly. It’s something you have to manage when your name is in the headlines, but he remains committed, and I haven’t noticed any major changes in his demeanor.”

Iraola’s Efforts to Improve Bournemouth’s Performance

Bournemouth started the season strongly, briefly sitting in the top four, but their recent form has seen them drop to 13th place. Iraola is keen to reverse this trend.

“We’re definitely not being as effective as we were at the start of the season. We were accumulating points that perhaps we didn’t fully deserve early on, and now we’re falling short overall,” he remarked.

“I acknowledge that we weren’t as strong as our early results implied, yet we are not as poor as our recent outcomes suggest either. We’re somewhere in between.”

“We’re now focused on taking risks, enhancing our efficiency, scoring more, and capitalizing on the opportunities we create. Ultimately, that’s what truly matters.”