Iraola Addresses Semenyo’s Suspension, Recent Defeats, and Wolves’ Cunha Ahead of Match

Andoni Iraola, the manager of Bournemouth, addressed reporters ahead of the Premier League match against Wolves scheduled for Saturday at 15:00 GMT. Below are the main points from his press conference. He reported no new injury worries, though “one or two players with small things” are being monitored, with Iraola expressing optimism about their availability for Saturday. Ryan Christie is eligible to play again, having completed his one-match suspension. However, Antoine Semenyo will not be available due to accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season in the recent game against Brighton. Iraola described Semenyo as “a player you don’t want to lose,” but indicated that the club views the forward’s suspension as “a small break” and an opportunity for him to “deload” after participating in all 12 Premier League matches this season. Regarding the previous two “difficult games,” which ended in two losses for Bournemouth, Iraola stated: “We weren’t as efficient as we were in other games. If we are not close to 100%, we don’t win games. We have to improve in the moments when the points are shared.” He anticipates another “difficult game” facing Wolves, who have secured victories in their last two league fixtures. Iraola commented: “They are surely in their best moment of the season. They come to us without any losses in their past four. We have to be ready for a very good team. We have to be at their level.” Iraola expressed “no surprise” at Wolves’ improved form, explaining: “In their first run of fixtures, it was very difficult because they played against all of the top teams. A similar thing happened to us last season. Now they have had more games against teams around their level, they have been very good.” He commended Gary O’Neil for performing “a hell of a job” during his tenure at Bournemouth, emphasizing “how difficult it is to survive” in the Premier League following promotion and noting that the Cherries achieved this under O’Neil’s leadership. Matheus Cunha was identified as the “difference-maker” for the opposing team. Iraola stated: “Every team has players who don’t need a lot to score, make big plays or give an assist. Cunha is that player. I know him very well because I also played against him in La Liga when he was at Atletico Madrid. He is a top player.”