If Manchester United appoint Bournemouth boss Iraola, he is expected to transform four key players. The decision comes amid uncertainty about the club's future and potential changes in the coaching staff.
Key points
Iraola is the Bournemouth boss being considered for Manchester United.
Michael Carrick has six games left in his audition for the head coach role.
A win against Chelsea could secure United's Champions League spot.
The need for a new head coach will be clear if Champions League qualification is not achieved.
Mentioned in this story
IraolaManchester UnitedBournemouthChelsea
The four players Iraola will transform if Man United appoint Bournemouth boss
INEOS are set for a huge summer at Manchester United, with the natural chaos of changes to the playing staff being compounded by the small matter of deciding who will take charge of the club on a permanent basis.
Michael Carrick has six games left in his audition and will go a long way towards jumping to the top of the queue with a win on Saturday night against Chelsea, one that would all but seal United’s place in next season’s Champions League.
However, INEOS will certainly be doing some heavy lifting in the background, as if Carrick does fail to deliver Champions League football at the end of the season, the need for a new head coach will be clear.
High profile name now available
Even if Carrick does guide United into the top five, INEOS could still be forgiven for wanting a more experienced coach to lead them into the new campaign, and events at Bournemouth this week will have certainly pricked their ears. Andoni Iraola’s announcement that he will be leaving the South Coast at the end of the season will have been of keen interest to the decision-makers in Manchester, with the Spaniard undoubtedly a name on their shortlist.
The 43-year-old’s fine work at Bournemouth has made him one of the most coveted managers in the game, and United’s hierarchy will certainly be considering the job he could do at Old Trafford. With that in mind, here are four players whom the Spanish coach could have a major impact on should he be handed the reins in the summer.
Q&A
Who is Iraola and what is his coaching background?
Iraola is the current head coach of Bournemouth, known for his innovative tactics and player development.
What impact could Iraola have on Manchester United's squad?
Iraola is anticipated to significantly improve the performance of four specific players at Manchester United.
What are the implications if Manchester United fails to qualify for the Champions League?
Failing to qualify for the Champions League could accelerate the need for a new head coach at Manchester United.
How many games does Michael Carrick have left to secure his position?
Michael Carrick has six games left to prove himself as a candidate for the permanent head coach position.
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The United man was in fine form before his ill-timed injury, after a couple of scorching strikes helped down both Manchester City and Arsenal following Michael Carrick’s arrival. Dorgu’s best asset lies clearly in his attacking ability, and the young Dane does not have to look much further than the rise of Milos Kerkez, who excelled under Iraola’s tutelage before sealing his big-money move to Liverpool in the summer.
Kerkez was given the licence to get forward but also remain a solid part of the defensive set-up, and was clearly impacted by Iraola’s coaching, given the Hungarian’s early struggles at Anfield. Adrian Truffert is now benefitting at Bournemouth in a similar role, and given Dorgu’s potential, he will be one who should be excited by the potential arrival of Iraola.
The uber-talented academy graduate has endured a tough 12 months at Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim clearly not trusting him to form part of a midfield two. However, with Iraola’s set-up, Mainoo could find himself thriving in a similar way to how Alex Scott is at the moment, with Mainoo’s ability a dream for a coach who wants to keep the ball and progress quickly through the lines.
Like Scott, Mainoo also has an eye for goal, and his composure in tight spaces means he can do damage in the final third of the field—something Iraola demands of his midfield. The 20-year-old has looked much more himself under Michael Carrick but could take his game to a new level under the guidance of the Spaniard.
Bournemouth’s success over the last 18 months has been largely due to their attacking threat, and Antoine Semenyo’s rise to one of the best wingers in the division saw Manchester City splash out £75 million on the Ghanaian in January. United’s only real out-and-out winger at present is Amad Diallo, who no doubt has the ability to force himself into a similar category to Semenyo.
Amad’s consistency has been an issue, but with time on the Ivorian’s side, he will be desperate to reach the numbers and level of impact Semenyo was producing at Bournemouth and now at the Etihad. Iraola will surely see Amad as a perfect clone of his former wide man, and the 23-year-old could soon be one of the leading lights in the Premier League on a regular basis.
The Red Devils splashed out a £70 million fee for the big striker last summer in the hope he can become the man that leads the front line at Old Trafford for years to come. A rough diamond, Sesko clearly has something about him that shows he can operate at the top level, but honing his talents under the pressure of the Theatre of Dreams is no easy task.
Iraola’s work with Dominic Solanke and, more recently, Evanilson has shown he knows how to get the best out of his number nines, which will be music to the ears of not just Sesko, but INEOS too, who will not want to have to find a costly replacement for him anytime soon. Despite having an outstanding impact off the bench in recent months, Sesko has still not fully gained Carrick’s trust, and a change in management could see that change going into the new season.
Final Thought – Job chances
With Bournemouth continuing to punch above their weight under Iraola’s spell, it is hard to make a case for any player not benefitting from his style of play, which promotes exciting football with tactical awareness and nous that has seen many a scalp taken on the South Coast and beyond.
United have seen first-hand the damage an Iraola-led side can do, with a thumping 3-0 win at Old Trafford last season followed up by a thrilling 4-4 draw in December. Whilst Iraola might not be the most high-profile name on INEOS’ shortlist, his Premier League experience will tick a lot of boxes for the hierarchy, who have operated with that at the forefront of their mind when adding to the playing staff.
If Carrick is not the man to take United forward, it is obvious Iraola will be up for some serious consideration given his declaration this week, and fans and players alike should be excited about his arrival given his outstanding performance at Bournemouth and Rayo Vallecano previously.
