After 15 games in their debut Premier League season, Bournemouth sit 17th – outside the bottom three on goal difference – and their style of play has seen Howe attract numerous plaudits. “But anyone will tell you wins breed confidence and it was a massive three points as we hadn’t won for a few games”.
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“It is not that we were not fit last season because we were probably one of the fittest in the league, but you get that little bit more rest in the Premier League and I think it shows”.
“It’s an extra special one, you are playing against some of best players in the world but we have to try to put that to one side, treat it like just another game and carry on concentrating on what we’re doing”. And local paper, the Daily Echo, seems to have let the club’s comparative success go to their heads, claiming that 68% of the world’s population (5 billion individuals) will tune in to see the Cherries take on Manchester United in Saturday’s televised late game…
Manchester United need a pick me up in this one after crashing out of the Champions League in midweek, but this is not a fixture they will be looking forward to.
“United are fourth and near the top of the league, we know how hard this game will be”. It would have been one of the first games they would have looked for when the fixtures were announced.
Each year has to be a progression and if Bournemouth can keep their Premier League status this season, next year they will have to improve once again; but that’s part and parcel of top-flight football something that I’m sure Howe is relishing with his underdog side.
Jamie Redknapp believes only two Manchester United players have enjoyed a good season so far this term: Chris Smalling and David de Gea, according to Sky Sports.
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Both sides have a number of notable absentees, but Howe will be the happier of the two managers and he will have his players pumped and ready to attempt another masterclass performance to upset another Premier League giant. Although there is that massive void in defence, Van Gaal’s side have the attacking prowess to cut open the Bournemouth back line. “I’m not thinking like that”, he snapped. Luke Shaw, Wayne Rooney, Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia are expected to miss out. “We have eight injured players because Darmian and also Smalling we can add to this list, and Schweinsteiger is also suspended, so it’s nine players who are not able to play”.
