Andoni Iraola Warns Bournemouth Will Be Tested by Man United’s Talent

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola says his side must be at their absolute best when they travel to Old Trafford on Monday evening to face a resurgent Manchester United.

The Cherries have enjoyed a remarkable record in Manchester under their Basque head coach, securing 3-0 victories in consecutive seasons at the iconic stadium. However, Andoni Iraola insists those past results count for little as his team prepare to face what he believes is the strongest United side he has encountered since taking charge.

“I love to play at Old Trafford — to coach there, because for me, it’s one of the best stadiums in the world,” Andoni Iraola said ahead of the trip. “The problem is that when you play there, you’re always up against a top team full of very good players.

“The atmosphere is incredible, and I know my players will appreciate that. But they also have to understand that in those kinds of stadiums, you must perform at a very high level — and I hope we can reach that level.”

Bournemouth’s memorable wins in previous campaigns have raised expectations, but Iraola was quick to temper any overconfidence. He pointed to United’s 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in pre-season, which served as a reminder of how dangerous the Red Devils can be.

“Yes, we have good precedents, but this is a different game,” he explained. “In pre-season, they were much better than us. The teams have changed — especially us, but also them — so I don’t expect many similarities. We start from zero.”

Andoni Iraola noted that United’s summer signings — including Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Amad Diallo — have added both quality and depth to Erik ten Hag’s squad, making them an even greater threat.

“They have bigger attacking options now,” he said. “We’ll have to defend well in one-on-one situations, especially out wide and at centre-back. Against players like these, sometimes in open spaces, you must be very, very good.”

The Cherries boss also reserved special praise for Mason Mount, highlighting his intelligence and movement as a key concern.

“Mason Mount is a very smart player,” Andoni Iraola said. “He always finds good positions. Sometimes he’s high, sometimes low, sometimes wide or inside — there’s always a purpose to what he does. And if we give players like him or Bruno Fernandes too much time on the ball, it becomes very difficult because they’re top-level players.”

With both teams in contrasting form, Iraola knows his side face an uphill battle — but one they’ll embrace with confidence, discipline, and the hope of another famous Old Trafford performance.