Wolves clash against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon as they aim to continue their recent upturn in form.
The Wanderers have won their last two matches in the league, defeating Southampton and thumping Fulham to move out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Up next for Gary O’Neil’s men is a home showdown against Bournemouth, who are six points and four places above them up the table.
Ahead of the clash at Molineux, O’Neil has been boosted by the return of three first-team stars, with Santi Bueno, Pablo Sarabia, and Craig Dawson fit to start against Bournemouth.
The Wolves boss was also pleased by the news that Matheus Cunha has been offered a new contract, and he’s a player Cherries manager Andoni Iraola knows very well along with Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Matheus Cunha of Wolverhampton Wanderers talks to teammate Joergen Strand Larsen after conceding the first goal during the Premier League match bet...
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Andoni Iraola on Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen
Cunha has emerged as one of the Premier League’s best forwards, plundering seven goals and supplying three assists so far in 2024/25.
As a result, Cunha has attracted interest from Manchester United, with the 25-year-old destined to reach the very top.
The Brazilian is a player most opposition managers will be trying to shutdown this term along with striker Strand Larsen, who has scored four goals since arriving on loan from Celta Vigo.
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Iraola, who came up against both players while manager of Rayo Valleacano in La Liga, is aware of the danger both players pose, hailing Cunha as a ‘difference maker’.
“He’s a difference maker [Cunha],” Iraola said via the Bournemouth Echo. “Every team knowing the Premier League has, we saw it against Brighton, in the end, Mitoma, Joao Pedro, players that they don’t need a lot to score, to make big plays, to give an assist.
“And Cunha is their player. I know him very well because I also played against him in La Liga from Atletico Madrid. I know very well also Larsen. I played against him and they are two top players. Top, top players.”
What Iraola is telling his Bournemouth players about Wolves
Cunha and Strand Larsen are the two attacking threats Bournemouth will be trying to shut down the most, but Iraola has also warned his players of the other quality stars Wolves possess.
He claimed O’Neil has some ‘very good’ technical players at his disposal and praised how ‘comfortable’ the hosts are on the ball.
“I think Wolves have a technically very, very, very good squad. Very good players. You know, everyone has level on the ball, so it’s not an easy opponent to press because everyone is quite comfortable on the ball,” Iraola added.
“They have good quality, not only the forwards, the midfielders. They play with Brazil a lot of games, with international games, the defenders, the full-backs, everyone is comfortable on the ball and I think it’s going to be demanding for us because it’s not going to be easy to take the ball from them.”
Following their last two wins, confidence is high in the Wolves camp and they’ll be hoping to continue that winning run on Saturday.
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