Man Utd drew 4-4 with Bournemouth in the Premier League, with the points being shared after a frantic second half.
Andoni Iraola on the touchline.(Image: 2025 Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth)
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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola admitted his side "suffered" due to Manchester United's tweaked tactical approach on Monday. Ruben Amorim tweaked his formation to face Bournemouth and the change helped United to create plenty of chances in an entertaining 4-4 draw.
Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha scored goals in quick succession to make it 4-3 to United with 10 minutes remaining, but Junior Kroupi responded at the other end to earn a point.
The celebrations were wild when Cunha scored United's fourth goal. The Reds thought they had won - yet still found a way to drop points at Old Trafford. Amorim admitted during his post-match press conference that the two points were dropped in the first half by United failing to put themselves out of sight.
Iraola said the twists and turns were really "really difficult to explain" when he addressed the media, and the Spaniard also shared his thoughts on the tactical change from Amorim.
"I think it is the same system they always play but they adapt depending on who you put to mark them. In the end, it's a very flexible system. Depending on the players, the outside players, depending if you mark them with a full-back, they will go lower, and then with a winger, they go higher.
"Also, with the positions in the middle, the six and eight, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes and, even us, we were changing, it's two against two, but it's not two against two.
"Until we match up well for us, I think we suffer in the first 15 or 20 minutes, something like this, and after when we put Alex [Scott] there, we felt much more solid without the ball. And when you feel solid, normally you also attack better."
Amorim was asked whether United were playing with four at the back at times. "That is for you to discuss, not for me," he said. "I know you guys know we trained this week with a back four."
The United boss has previously said not even the Pope could persuade him to change his formation, but he hinted at his pre-Bournemouth press conference he would be willing to make tweaks.