Just because Bournemouth cruised to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford earlier in the season, you will not find Andoni Iraola taking the threat posed by an admittedly very-out-sorts Manchester United side lightly.
Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils travel to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday night after dropping seven points in the space of a week, all in the 85th minute or later.
There are two players who Iraola was keen to highlight, meanwhile, during his pre-game press conference. Two players who, ahead of December’s meeting between Manchester United and Bournemouth, had just one Premier League goal between them in 2023/24.
Four months on, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho can boast a tally of fourteen combined. The baby-faced duo have come on leaps and bounds alongside Kobbie Mainoo since the turn of the year, both breaking a top-flight record along the way.
Bournemouth boss wary of Manchester United duo
“Yeah, (Hojlund) is very, very dangerous,” Iraola tells the Bournemouth YouTube channel of Man United’s £64 million centre-forward.
“He is a number nine who players very well facing the goal because he is physical enough to pin the centre-backs and then set (up) the team-mates. And he’s very good because he’s very fast (at) attacking the spaces. (He has) a very good strike with his left boot.”
Hojlund became the youngest player in Premier League history to score in six successive games recently, until a spell on the sidelines with injury snapped that streak. The Dane is yet to find the net since his quick-fire brace against Luton Town nearly two months ago.
Garnacho, meanwhile, reached double figures for goals and assists during his second season in the Man United first-team with a brace of his own in that 4-3 defeat to Chelsea.
“All the forwards they have are really good,” adds Iraola, who was part of the Marcelo Bielsa-led Athletic Bilbao team who once stunned Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United in the Europa League.
“Garnacho is making the difference in almost every game.”
Ten Hag discusses Rashford and McTominay fitness
Hojlund, Garnacho and Marcus Rashford have firmly established themselves as Man United’s first-choice front three in recent months. Ten Hag, at his own press conference, admitted that Rashford is touch and go ahead of this weekend’s trip to the South Coast however.
Should Rashford prove to be unavailable, that could open up an opportunity for the revitalised Antony to continue a spell of decent form.
“Then, Rashford,” the former Ajax boss says. “Rashy trained yesterday (on Thursday). We have another training today, and then we will make a decision on (whether he can play).”
Scott McTominay’s involvement is also, to quote Ten Hag, ‘very questionable’.
“Scott, I don’t think (he will be available),” Ten Hag sighs. “We have a training (session) before the game). So we have a day. He will push. He is so keen to be a part of it tomorrow.
“(But) it’s very questionable.”