Andoni Iraola Discusses Sunderland vs Bournemouth Match

Bassyonni

ago 34 minutes

Andoni Iraola Discusses Sunderland vs Bournemouth Match

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola addressed the media ahead of the highly anticipated Premier League clash against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The match is set to kick off at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

Injury Updates for Bournemouth

As Bournemouth prepares for the match, several key players’ availability remains uncertain:

Antoine Semenyo: Hoping to be fit for selection if all goes well on Friday.
Justin Kluivert: Has returned to training but is unlikely to participate in Saturday’s match.
Ryan Christie: Expected to be sidelined for a considerable time due to a knee sprain revealed by an MRI scan.
Ben Gannon-Doak: Also projected to be unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Bournemouth’s Defensive Challenges

In his comments, Iraola acknowledged the team’s recent struggles in defense. He emphasized the need to cut down on goals conceded:

“I don’t think we conceded as many chances to concede that many goals. We have to reduce the number of goals we are conceding; otherwise, it becomes difficult to win games,” he stated.

This season, Bournemouth has collected only five points from 18 possible on their travels in the Premier League, making effective defensive play essential for any hope of success.

Facing Sunderland

Iraola has a high regard for Sunderland as they head into their match at the Stadium of Light. He believes the hosts should not be underestimated:

“We cannot see Sunderland as just a promoted team. They are a really good team with experienced players from big clubs,” he said. “They know what it takes to win in the Premier League.”

Sunderland remains unbeaten at home this season. Their impressive performances against well-established clubs further solidifies this view. Iraola added, “It’s going to be tough as they haven’t lost any games at home.”