BREAKING NEWS: Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has made a striking admission ahead of tonight’s clash at Old Trafford, revealing that he has instructed two defenders to specifically focus on stopping one Manchester United star.
According to Iraola, Manchester United rarely lose when this player performs well—making him the top priority to neutralize.
As the Premier League schedule continues ahead of the Christmas period, Manchester United host AFC Bournemouth in what will be their final home game before the holiday break.
United currently sit eighth in the table, but a victory tonight could see them leap as high as fifth, depending on other results.
Current Form of Both Teams
Manchester United come into the game on a mixed run. While they have lost just once in their last nine fixtures across all competitions, the Red Devils have only managed a single victory in their previous five Premier League matches. Their performances have improved, but inconsistency remains a concern.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, enter the match in a similarly unstable period. Despite showing flashes of quality earlier in the season, Iraola’s men have collected only two points from their last five league outings, placing added pressure on them to secure a positive result.
Iraola Identifies Manchester United’s Key Threat
During his pre-match media session, Iraola spoke highly of Manchester United’s attacking options but singled out Amad Diallo as the player who could cause the most damage.
He noted that despite the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Šeško, it is Amad who has emerged as the most unpredictable and dangerous attacker in the squad.
He praised the young winger’s growth and influence, describing him as the type of forward who forces defenders into constant one-on-one battles.
Iraola explained that his team’s full-backs and centre-backs will have to remain alert throughout the match, as Amad excels in open space and thrives in attacking duels.
A key uncertainty remains: with AFCON approaching, Manchester United are unsure whether Amad, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui will be available for selection tonight.
Regardless, Iraola emphasized Amad’s quality and insisted Bournemouth must prepare as though he will start.
Amad Diallo’s Season So Far
The Ivorian winger has featured in 14 matches this season, registering one goal and three assists. But beyond statistics, his impact has come through his link-up play and creativity.
Amad has struck up an impressive partnership with Mbeumo on the right-hand side, offering a combination of pace, precision, and unpredictability—something United will certainly miss during AFCON.
Amad has previously scored against Bournemouth in pre-season, although he has yet to record a goal contribution against them in competitive league fixtures.
Even so, his development under Rúben Amorim has been noticeable, and opposition managers—like Iraola—are increasingly recognizing him as one of United’s most influential attackers.
The Stakes Tonight
With United aiming to push up the table and Bournemouth desperate to stop their slump, both sides understand the importance of this match.
Iraola’s admission about assigning multiple defenders to mark Amad highlights how much respect the winger has earned and how crucial he could be in shaping the outcome at Old Trafford.
