Iraola: Bournemouth Sees ‘Significant Chance’ in FA Cup Quarter-Final Clash with Man City

Bournemouth’s manager, Andoni Iraola, has shared his thoughts in a recent press conference as his side gears up to face Manchester City in the FA Cup this weekend.

Historically, the Cherries have yet to claim the FA Cup, and their current campaign represents the club’s deepest progression in the tournament’s history.

Iraola is keen to etch his name in the club’s history by reaching the semi-finals and was first asked about the latest team news.

“Everyone is back in training today. We’ve had a productive couple of weeks with Marcus (Tavernier) and Julian (Araujo), which is fantastic news,” he stated.

“Marcus may not be fit for a full 90 minutes, but he’ll be available to assist us.”

Next, Iraola discussed the possibility of advancing to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time and recalled their 2-1 league victory over City back in November.

“We have a significant opportunity this weekend; everyone stepping onto the pitch must be ready to give their all, although even that may not suffice to overcome City. The effort from everyone is immense, but for us, the chance to play at Wembley is monumental, while for City it’s a familiar scene.”

“We can’t alter the draw; once it’s set, it’s set. We find ourselves in a different phase, and we hope to be close to the level we exhibited that day in November – that’s our only way to compete.”

Iraola then commented on Dean Huijsen, who recently made his debut for Spain during the international break, mentioning reports of him being linked with a transfer to Real Madrid.

“We’re not taken aback; he has been consistently performing well and has shown significant improvement throughout the season. He has faced tough attackers, and we knew we had a quality player on our hands.”

“You’ll have to ask him about that.”

“My focus is on doing my job to the best of my ability; I can’t predict where we will end up. If I’m not performing well, they will seek alternatives. I’m content here. Achieving a semi-final spot for the first time would mean a lot to me personally and to the club. We will strive to deliver our best performance.”