Andoni Iraola talks about Newcastle United challenge

3 months ago 26

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Andoni Iraola has been talking about Newcastle United.

The Bournemouth boss speaking in advance of Sunday’s 2pm kick-off.

The Cherries kicked off their season with a 1-1 draw at Forest, picking up a point thanks to an 86th minute equaliser by Semenyo.

Andoni Iraola says Newcastle United will be a massive challenge but he is also confident that his team can cause the visitors problems as well.

Taking over last summer, Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth looked doomed after picking up only three points in the opening eight Premier League matches. However, a run of seven wins and only one defeat in their next nine, set the south coast club on their way to safety and an eventual 12th place, Andoni Iraola picking up a new enhanced and extended contract as a result.

Fair to say that Bournemouth caught Newcastle at the perfect time last November, when United ended up with a ridiculous number of missing players and at the end of a week where the same small group of players had won against Arsenal at home and then travelled for a midweek defeat in Dortmund in the Champions League.

Newcastle United actually played pretty well in the return match, despite needing a last gasp Matt Ritchie goal to get a point in a 2-2 draw.

Despite having been the more dominant team, it was Bournemouth who scored the opener shortly into the second-half, a bizarre goal where Dubravka slipped when the ball was played to him and Solanke gifted a tap-in.

That is a big change now though, Solanke a £65m signing for Spurs, with Evanilson now brought in for £40m from Porto to replace him. Interesting to see if the new striker is thrown straight in on Sunday.

Andoni Iraola on the challenge of facing Newcastle United:

“We have to prepare very well because the demands of playing against Newcastle United will be very high.

“They have won [against Southampton] playing with 10 players.

“They are a team that defends very well, attacks very fast, has individual players who can make the difference.

“We will have to be at our very best if we want to have some success against them.

“We will try to do it, because if we are at our level, I don’t think we are an easy team for them as well.”

Newcastle United schedule to end of October 2024:

Sunday 25 August 2024 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 28 August 2024 – Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (8pm) Carabao Cup round two

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 1 September 2024 – Newcastle v Tottenham (1.30pm) Sky Sports

(The first international break of the season)