Old Trafford has been a happy hunting ground for Bournemouth in the last two years but manager Andoni Iraola is particularly careful about one player this time.
The bar wasn’t very high since Man Utd finished 15th last season, but still, it’s impossible to look at the current team and not come to the conclusion that improvements have been made.
Clearly, the team is far from a finished product, but there is growth in certain phases of play, personified by one player in particular.
Will Manchester United end the four game winless run against Bournemouth?😳
Back to back 3-0 defeats at Old Trafford to the Cherries… can Ruben Amorim break this curse?
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Andoni Iraola was happy to go into detail about what that ‘lovely’ player does for Ruben Amorim’s team since he ‘understands’ the game really well.
Mason Mount celebrates during the Premier League match between Wolves and Manchester United at the Molineux in 2025 in Wolverhampton, England.
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
Andoni Iraola raves about Mason Mount
It has become obvious by now that, despite three attacking signings in the summer, the attacker who really makes United tick is Mason Mount.
United are a much better team with Mount in the XI, and that is reflected in the results with and without him.
Should Mason Mount be a guaranteed starter under Ruben Amorim?
Manchester United have only lost one game this season when Mason Mount started
Mason Mount Impact (Manchester Utd Premier League 2025/26)
Metric Starts Doesn’t Start
Games 7 8
Wins 5 2
Draws 1 3
Losses 1 1
Win% 71.4% 25%
Points per game 2.3 1.1
*Note: Statistics cover the first 15 Premier League matches of the 2025/26 season.
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As Mount has shaken off his injuries this season, he has become an increasingly important member of the first XI, with the 4-1 win against Wolves a firm reminder of his qualities.
Iraola was asked about what a headache an in-form Mount provides for his Bournemouth side, and the Spaniard was extremely complimentary.
He said: “Mason Mount is a very smart player. He always takes up good positions. I think he understands and analyses the game really well, to take up spaces on the pitch that he can exploit better.
“Sometimes he plays higher, sometimes lower, sometimes wider, sometimes inside, and obviously, there is a reason he does that. Then he is also a lovely player on the ball if we allow him a lot of time.”
Bournemouth haven’t faced an in-form Mason Mount before
Bournemouth’s last two visits to Old Trafford have ended in 3-0 victories for them against both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
However, Mason Mount didn’t play a single minute in either of those games due to injuries, something he will definitely rectify now.
Mount’s style of play, as analysed by Iraola, is perfectly suited to break Bournemouth’s press since he takes up great positions on the pitch.
Amorim’s change in style of play already benefits United way against The Cherries more than it did previously, and Mount’s presence adds to the threat.
United are best-placed to beat Bournemouth now for that reason than they have been on the last two occasions at Old Trafford.
If Mount can continue his hot streak, then there’s no reason why United won’t get their first win against Bournemouth after four failed attempts.
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