Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad stadium (kick-off 16:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Iraola confirmed they are “in a good spot injury-wise” with forward Evanilson potentially being back in contention having “been training most of the week as normal with the rest of the team”.
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He added: “Difficult for me to make decisions because I have to leave some players out of the squad. But it is good and a lovely place to be in that sense. We can approach the game in different ways.”
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On how he can keep players happy: “To keep everyone happy is impossible. Everyone has to complain and natural it is like this and should be like this. Have to accept these things. Have to put the team first. What gives us the best chance to get something from the game, not just starting XI, but also from the bench.”
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Iraola revealed he had lunch and chatted “about lots of different things” with owner Bill Foley this week, but they did not have a meeting about his contract and added: “We talk every day. We know each other, we will have time to talk [about contract] whenever we decide.”
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On their start to the season and eight-game unbeaten run: “We are being competitive. We are not just winning easy games. All games we have played have been quite a level. We are being effective, efficient. Now, the challenge is bigger [against City], facing one of most difficult games you can in world football. We have to raise our level to have chance to take anything.”
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The Cherries boss said he does not “care” about Erling Haaland as he only wants “to win the game”, adding: “It is not about Haaland not scoring. If he scores two and we score three then I take it. He is their main goalscorer and in great form. It will be very difficult to stop him because he is scoring most games but a challenge we have to accept as defenders, as a group collectively.”
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On if this match is a real test of where they are: “No, I want City to win every game, Liverpool to win every game, Arsenal to win every game. They are not our rivals. When they face other teams, I don’t want them to lose any points. I want them to win every game because at end of the season we know we won’t be there with those teams, we will be in our own fight.”
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