The boss spoke on that, as well as other team news, the team’s form and their opponents in Spurs.
Read every word from the broadcast section of Iraola’s press conference here.
Jeremy Langdon (Sky Sports News): Bad news about Justin Kluivert’s knee surgery. I mean, how bad is it? Is he out for the season?
Andoni Iraola: Yes, as you said, bad news about Justin. I think he asked for the change the game against Arsenal. In the moment it didn't look as bad when the game ended, but next morning he came with a very swollen knee. We did the MRI and he has a knee injury. He will need surgery and the time out will depend on what happens in the surgery. He will have surgery Thursday and depending what they decide to do, will be. But it will be months. It can be more months or less months, depending how they approach the surgery. But yes, definitely very bad news.
JL: Is it meniscus, ACL?
AI: No, no, it's not ligament related. It's the knee capsule, the patella. Probably I'm not a doctor, I'm not the best one to explain it, but what I've been told is they will open, they will see what they can do and depending if sometimes they decide to repair it and it's more time, maybe if it's not as bad, they just clean it and it's less time. But definitely some considerable injury. I cannot tell you exactly the length and probably after the surgery Thursday, next time we talk, I can be more precise. But yes, he will be definitely out for some time.
JL: And will this mean you have to go into the market to look for a replacement?
AI: Yes, yes. We already needed to go to the market because we have needs in other positions. Also with some players having surgeries. Now with that one more need. Yes, definitely. We are in a delicate situation, I would say because we are missing important players.
JL: Is there any other injury news, selection news you can tell us for this game?
AI: No, I think at the end we are playing every three days. Doesn't change a lot from one game to the other. No, I think from the positive news, let's say, Veljko has started training with us already. Milosavljevic so he is the closest one to recover.
JL: And just to confirm Antoine Semenyo is in the squad and will play.
AI: Yes, yes. Antoine will play tomorrow. Yes.
JL: A lot of people are wondering whether this is his last Bournemouth game. What can you say?
AI: I can give you my opinion from my experience, but there is nothing signed with Antoine Semenyo. If you ask me personally, what do you think? With all the noise and this, I think could be the last game, but I cannot guarantee it. Yes, you know, it’s like my personal opinion, because I understand the market, I understand the noise, but right now there is. There is nothing agreed, there is nothing signed. So for me is our player and I hope he continues. But my understanding also, because I've been in other markets before, in this club and in others, there is a chance it's his last game also. Yes.
JL: And it also is 26th birthday tomorrow, so potentially his last game for Bournemouth on his 26th birthday. I mean, what kind of tribute would you pay to him? Because he's been a great player for you, hasn't he?
AI: Yes. I didn't know it was his birthday. I think he has been very professional. He has dealt with this situation, whatever it happens, I think very well. He's always been ready to play, to give everything, and. And I want him to play very well tomorrow and let's see what happens later. But I can only speak very well about him personally and professionally. And his commitment has never really been in doubt.
JL: I mean, if he does go, it leaves you a bit of a problem. He's your leading scorer. Can you really replace him in this window?
AI: No, definitely, I don't want to lose him. I said it a lot of times. And he's a player that is, even in any circumstances, almost impossible to replace. Even in a winter market is even more difficult. But I don't want to anticipate anything. Let's see if it happens at the end or doesn't happen. But right now I have to say the truth. And right now is our player and continues to be our player. And it's not that we are waiting for, you know, the game to happen to. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or the next two, three days. But I passed before coming here just to tell me. Otherwise I will look foolish there talking about Antoine and then. And that's the situation today in this moment of the day.
JL: But there are Bournemouth fans who are going to come here tomorrow wondering if they're going to see Antoine Semenyo for the last time in a Bournemouth shirt. So what would you say to those fans?
AI: I don't have an answer for them. I can give what I think and I cannot be more honest. You know, my opinion is that there is big chances. It's his last game. But if you ask me right now, right now, there is no agreement, nothing signed with any club.
JL: It's been an interesting few days in the Premier League. Obviously, Ruben Amorim has lost his job at Manchester United, another big departure. What do you make of that?
AI: For me, it's very difficult. We have enough problems right now here to talk about other situations. No, I think December, January is always a difficult moment of the season in the Premier League. Now we'll see. I am complaining about injuries, but you see other players, even we are playing Spurs. They have their injuries. City, they have I don't know how many players. Everyone has his problems and definitely no one in United cares what they say about them.
JL: And your problem is no win in 11 games. So how badly do you need to win this one?
AI: We definitely need points. Need points. Because at the end we are, I think, we can tell that we are performing better or worse. I think we are coming from good games, but we haven't won. And at the end, for being in a better position. You need to win. You need to win. Yes.
JL: Only three more teams have conceded more goals than you in the Premier League. This is a big problem, isn't it? So how do you solve this?
AI: Yes, it's quite easy to see our problems. I think we are one of the teams who scores more goals and one of the teams that receives more goals, it’s like this. The problem is we are not conceding as many chances lately. But I was reading the other day, I think Arsenal had like expected goals of one and scored three goals. It's okay, they are very good. But when it happens consistently is that we are doing things that are not the right ones in the boxes especially. I think we are conceding some cutbacks, both of the Declan Rice goals. I think there are situations that we need to deal better inside our box because we are not considering as many dangerous situations against to consider the number of goals we are considering.
JL: Tottenham you did beat earlier in the season. What do you make of them at the moment? They're not playing that well. Do you sense you have a real chance in this game?
AI: I think Tottenham are a very good team. Very well coached. I think they have in some departments they are very good. I think they've scored, I think ten corners or something like this. So this means, I think more than third of the goals come from. From corners also very good crossing from outside. They have, I don't know, players who deliver very, very quality crosses, good finishes. Good number nines. And probably they've been struggling more at home than away. I think away they've been having better results and another tough challenge for us. No, but it's true that there is no easy game in the Premier League. So you have to give everything in every game. We already have the experience and we know how much it takes to just win one point in the Premier League. So we have to give everything we have.
JL: Just finally, for me, you are one of the most highly regarded managers in the Premier League in a really short space of time. Your contract's up at the end of this season. There are big clubs now like Manchester United, who are looking for a new manager. How do you feel about Bournemouth and how do you feel about your contract situation and your ambition?
AI: Actually, you were asking me now one question ago. No, that we've been, I think 11 games, just five points we have in 11 games, you know, so that's my worry. That's what is giving me thoughts at night. No other situation, believe me. Right now we are in a very delicate position, more than in the standings or in the points, I think like numbers wise, very uncertainty in this market. This is what I'm really worried about. Yes.
Paul Belverstone (Premier League Productions): With the goals you mentioned about conceding cutbacks and things, how difficult is it at this time of year, especially to work on those things when it's game, game, game, game, game.
AI: I think now we are using basically videos, a little bit outside. But you cannot burn the legs of the players training. No, because also we don't have a big number of players right now. So the ones that are available, I think they are playing a big number of minutes. So now it's about recovery. But they have to realise that we are probably considering situations and considering goals from situations that. And we should be dealing with them better. Also, we have to understand, we have been without Tyler, without Lewis Cook, without Ryan Christie for now a considerable period of time are probably the players that you want on those positions. But I appreciate a lot what I think players like Tav or Alex Scott, because we are needing them in probably more defensive positions that they are used to play and they are doing very well. I think
PB: They are filling in very well, I looked into the stats over those three players you mentioned. Cook, Tyler Adams, Ryan Christie. They had 80 Premier League starts between them last season. Between them, they haven't managed 20 this season. So there's been all this talk about how difficult it's been losing four of your five at the back. How significant have those absences been in the middle.
AI: Yes, the facts are the facts. You said the facts. You know, there is a reason why it's costing us a lot this season. But I'm here and we are here to find solutions, to identify the problems. And it's quite easy, but we have to find solutions with the players that we have now available. I'm very, very happy with the attitude of the players. For me, it would be easier if I thought, okay, we haven't come in the right mindset. We haven't been on it, we haven't tried, we haven't run enough. No, I think the players are giving everything, but definitely we need to improve. I think there have been a couple of games, probably Brentford away especially, where we definitely were not on it, and the mentality to approach the game was not there, but have been the exceptions in other games. I really liked how they started the game against Arsenal. I really liked how they approach the game against Chelsea, the last ones. My belief is that in that mindset, even with those problems that we are having with other players, result will come.
PB: We've often thought almost enjoy longer spells against teams who are more adventurous and you can sort of open the game up and cause chaos, as we’ve mentioned. Are you expecting a less adventurous opponent tomorrow?
AI: Yes, I think they've had everything, but most of their games have been quite controlled. Every goal is very important against them. To score first against them, I think is key, it’s always important. But especially against Spurs for the way they play and how they perform when they are winning, they are losing and this. But I suppose they will think the same and we will try to start strong.
PB: Is there any news on Ryan Christie? Any sort of expectation of when he'll be back?
AI: I don't think he's going to be back tomorrow, but it's a matter of feelings with him. It's a matter of when he tells us, okay, I feel better. I don't feel pain when I hit the ball because he's running, he's sprinting, no problem. But he still has some issues kicking the ball. And you have to kick the ball to play football. You have to do it. So I think we still need a little bit more of time with him.
PB: And for all the bad news about injuries and players that you're missing. Did Amine Adli show glimpses that he's against Arsenal, that he's becoming more comfortable in the Premier League?
AI: I think the more minutes he plays, the better he is going to look and the best is going to be for him. We are asking a lot of new players to adapt quickly. Some of them have adapted more quickly if you want. Others probably it’s taking them more time. But I think he wants to and when you want, I think, with the help of everyone, I think he will definitely find a way. I think his attitude is the right one. We trust his capabilities. So now, especially, in a moment where we don't have all the players available, everyone will be needed.