INCREDIBLE SULKS
Iraola warns his warring wingers: If you moan it makes it easier to axe you
ANDONI IRAOLA has sent a behaviour warning to his wing fraternity after sealing a permanent deal for Luis Sinisterra.
The Colombian’s six goal involvements in 17 appearances for the Cherries has already convinced them to splash £20million to bring him in from Leeds.
It means Spanish boss Iraola (circled, below) will continue to have a selection crisis of high-quality wingers.
Dango Outtara, Marcus Tavernier, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo are fighting it out with Sinisterra for two positions – with David Brooks and Jaidon Anthony returning from their loans in the summer.
Iraola has told them that if anyone wants to sulk, it will only make his life easier.
“I know when players don’t play they are angry,” said the 41-year-old ahead of today’s clash with Fulham. “It is something I can’t control.
“When I’m choosing the starting XI, I’m not choosing because they will have a better reaction. I have to choose the best XI to win the game.
“I always tell the players after the game that if they are angry and you don’t want to train then it is easier for me – it means there is one less player for me to have to choose from.
“The difficulty for me is when they come the next day and they keep pushing and train well, because that makes me think that it is going to be difficult to continue with them on the bench.”
Sinisterra currently holds the left-wing position after starting at Nottingham Forest last week, and Iraola has explained what makes him stand out.
“I think they are all different,” he said. “He is really dangerous when we put him close to the box and is technically good in tight spaces and can play on both sides.
“He is becoming a more complete player.”
Bournemouth unleashed a kick-off routine against Fulham, which saw Dominic Solanke score eight seconds after half-time in 2021.
Iraola has had a light shone on his new kick-off ideas, having scored early against Forest and
West Ham in their last two games. But he admitted: “We try to prepare sometimes but it depends on the other team and how aggressive they are and how we can find the spaces.”