Bournemouth boss expects 'best' Manchester United to turn up
The Cherries host Ruben Amorim's side tomorrow
Last updated 26th Apr 2025
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is expecting to face the "best" Manchester United team on Sunday.
United are expected to head to the Vitality Stadium with one eye on next week's crucial Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao.
Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim made several changes to his side for their previous Premier League game, which ended in a 1-0 home defeat by Wolves, when academy defender Tyler Fredricson was handed his first start.
Amorim could again rotate the squad against the Cherries, who are still chasing European qualification via the league table.
Iraola, though, insists his focus will be fully on his own team, who won 3-0 at Old Trafford in December.
"They don't change their structure a lot (since that game). They are trying to find the best spots for every player," the Bournemouth boss said at a press conference.
"For sure, he (Amorim) is more familiarised than when we faced them there. I think when we played them the game was quite level, it was not a 3-0 game.
"I expect also a tight game. I hope we can win it, we can make the difference, but it is a team that normally defends quite well, doesn't give you a lot of chances.
"I know they have the game on Thursday in the Europa League but they have four days to rest, so we have been preparing against the best Man United team."
Iraola added: "I don't know what they are going to do.
"I suppose for them Thursday is very, very important, but I am sure they want to beat us on Sunday also.
"And also Thursday is not like the second leg, it is the first leg after they will have to wait another week, play the decisive game one week later.
"We don't know obviously the players that are going to be against us, but we have prepared like they are going to put their strongest 11, whatever he considers."
Bournemouth head into Sunday on the back of a three-match unbeaten run, which has seen them edge in front of the pack chasing a possible slot in the Conference League next season.
Having seen his side keep successive clean sheets - albeit last week's coming somewhat frustratingly against the 10 men of Crystal Palace - Iraola feels a solid defence will be just as crucial over the run-in.
"You keep adding points and if you are strong defensively, normally we create chances and we score our goals and for me is what has given us a lot during the season," he said.
"Our defensive numbers have been really good (recently) and that was not the concern we had like some games before when we were considering cheap goals that have been uncharacteristic for us this season."