Three-time EFL Championship winners Fulham are set to take on Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth later today in the 7th Premier League gameweek of the 2025/2026 season, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Cottagers are currently 11th in the English top-flight, while their opponents are 6th with three wins.
Although Bournemouth are welcoming Marco Silva’s side to the Vitality Stadium and have the home advantage, their head coach is aware of the threat some of their players pose.
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Quizzed about how he picks his starting lineup for a crucial fixture, the Spaniard said;
“I don’t decide the day before because they do something special, but it’s a moment where you can feel the mood of the players and see who can be mentally more switched on,” he said in quotes revealed by BBC UK.
The Cherries parted ways with defenders like Dean Huijsen [Real Madrid] and Milos Kerkez [Liverpool] this summer, but Marcos Senesi stayed put, and the former Rayo Vallecano man stated the importance of having stability at the back.
“He’s started a lot of games with us – I think he’s a very good centre-back. What he can help us with as well is offensive set-plays because we are not a big threat normally.
“I think Marcos is one of the best assets in that department. Also, the combination with Milos [Veljko Milosavljevic], [James] Hill and Bafode [Diakite ] is quite good,” Iraola concluded.
Iraola also admitted Fulham can cause Bournemouth problems with their link-up play, hyping up the ability of Alex Iwobi and Josh King in tight spaces.
“On the ball. They value possession. Technically, they have good combinations.
“They had a very nice squad. Players like Kevin, Emile Smith-Rowe, Samuel Chukwueze, I know him very well from Spain.
“Top players not starting a lot of games. It means they have a lot of different options they can use. We’ve been working with the thought that Raul Jimenez is going to start.”
“Now [Alex] Iwobi and Josh King. King has been a big surprise – I didn’t know about him at the beginning of the season, and he has been playing really, really well.
“This combination with Iwobi and [Ryan] Sessegnon on the left side is really dangerous. I hope we can limit those things,” the former Athletic Club defender concluded.
Iwobi enjoyed a great campaign with Fulham last season, hitting a personal high of goal contributions in the English top-flight, scoring nine goals and providing six assists.