AFC Bournemouth experienced a dramatic turn of events over the weekend as they faced Manchester United. Despite leading with ten men heading into stoppage time, the Cherries were left heartbroken when Rasmus Hojlund scored a late equalizer for the Red Devils. This result saw Bournemouth drop to tenth place in the Premier League standings, trailing Fulham and Brighton, who occupy the eighth and ninth spots, respectively. With only four games remaining in the season, the Cherries’ quest for a top-eight finish has become significantly more challenging.
Iraola said: “I think we are in a more difficult position than we were in the past week, I think now because we are not now eighth, now we are tenth. We will go there, we will give our best. But it’s true we are in a worse position than we were if we would have won the game, obviously.”
Iraola added: “I think they are different situations, especially we played against ten men at home [vs Arsenal], but for us it’s a huge opportunity. Even if it’s difficult, we know it’s difficult, we have to give our best. I don’t know if it’s going to be enough or not, but once you give your best, maybe we go there, we play well, they’ve been better. Nothing we can do, okay. But I wouldn’t be happy if we don’t give our best. I don’t want to finish with regrets these games.”
Despite the setback, Bournemouth has demonstrated their capability to compete with top-tier teams, having already secured victories against Manchester City and Arsenal earlier in the season. As they prepare for the final stretch, the Cherries aim to replicate these performances in their upcoming away fixtures. Manager Iraola remains optimistic, emphasizing the importance of giving their all in each match, regardless of the outcome. With the pressure mounting, Bournemouth will need to harness their previous successes and channel them into a strong finish to the season.
