#PLStories- Gary O’Neil shares ‘love’ for all his players #AFCB

INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil joked that he was “not sure” if all of his charges liked him – even if he loves “all of them”. Former Portsmouth midfielder O’Neil has become a popular figure amongst the Cherries fanbase following an unbeaten streak of six games since replacing Scott Parker on a caretaker basis at the end of August. Cherries twice led against Fulham at the weekend, first-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Jefferson Lerma pegged back by Issa Diop and a Aleksander Mitrovic penalty. Since being installed as interim head coach, numerous Cherries players have detailed their liking of O’Neil, who has been a part of the first team coaching set up at Cherries since February 2021. Despite the public displays of support from senior players, O’Neil shared with jest: “I'm not sure they all like me! “I love all of them, they're all massive to me. “All 25 that I can use, maybe 26, they're all massive to me. “I mean, I'm gutted when some of them don't get to come on the pitch because the game goes that way. “They're all so important to me. They've all got things that we're definitely going to need at some point.” When asked if he believed if his side were the hardest working in the Premier League, O’Neil would not be drawn on making outright claims, instead suggesting that they would “give everything” until “someone tells them to stop”. “I don't know enough about the other teams,” O’Neil restarted. “I know that this group will give me everything. They'll give whoever they're playing for everything. “They'll fully commit to the gameplan, and they won't stop until someone tells them to stop. And that's a big quality that we're going to need this season.” Cherries are next in action on Wednesday evening, when they host neighbours Southampton at the Vitality Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm).