Howe saw his Cherries side beaten 3-1 at home in Jose Mourinho’s first league game as United manager.
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Ahead of their opening Premier League game Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has challenged his team to keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic a silent figure.
The Cherries lost 3-1 to United at Old Trafford on the last day of the 2015-16 season – but Howe believes his side are up to the challenge.
Although Ritchie still had a part to play, Howe insists that Bournemouth couldn’t compare to Newcastle’s finances: “We weren’t happy to let him go”.
The former Burnley boss said: “The experience of playing against the superstar names and the big clubs means you naturally become a bit harder and you know what is coming. I think it is a really good move for both him and Wigan and he goes with our best wishes”. While last year’s 16th-place finish in their first top-flight campaign can be viewed as achieving exactly what they set out to do, this season will offer a different challenge.
“That will stand us in good stead for sure”.
Howe, who gave debuts to record signing Jordon Ibe and Lewis Cook, also confirmed that a fee has been agreed with Stoke City for defender Marc Wilson.
“I think sometimes it does take a result like that to stimulate the players, hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for that feeling this season”.
He said: “It is always nice to prove people wrong, I have no problem with it”.
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“Simon’s been outstanding over a long period of time and it’s just a little blip for him”.
