Manchester City faces a tough challenge when it visits Bournemouth on March 30 as it looks to salvage a disappointing season.
Dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid last month, eliminated from the League Cup by Tottenham in October, and 22 points behind Liverpool in the English Premier League, the FA Cup represents City’s only hope of a trophy this season.
It couldn’t have asked for a tougher assignment than travelling to Bournemouth, which is having a superb season in the EPL, four points behind City and still in the race for the final Champions League spot.
Andoni Iraola is in the mix when the subject of Manager of the Year is broached, and he fully deserves it for turning Bournemouth into contenders for a place in Europe.
The Spaniard has turned his team of ‘nobodies’ into superstars, drawing the attention of other clubs, most notably league leader Liverpool.
The Reds are said to be interested in Dean Huijsen (centreback), Milos Kerkez (leftback), and Antoine Semenyo (winger). Real Madrid is also interested in Huijsen.
Iraola will do well to keep his team intact, but beating City in the FA Cup quarterfinals and qualifying for Europe for the first time in Bournemouth’s history will give him a bargaining chip.
In November, Bournemouth beat City 2-1 at home, ending the Manchester club’s 10-month and 32-game unbeaten run in the league. City was top at the time, but after that defeat, suffered three more losses on the trot and only won one game in 13 in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola’s men have not fully recovered from that devastating defeat. City is also feeling the loss of Rodri, who underwent knee surgery in September after injuring his ACL. The Spaniard has started light training but has a slim chance of returning to action before the season ends.
Elsewhere, there are two other all-Premier League clashes, with Fulham facing Crystal Palace and Brighton hosting Nottingham Forest.
The other tie sees Aston Villa travelling to struggling Championship side Preston. The two teams were among the 12 founders of the English League back in 1888.
Preston won the league and cup double in 1889, but has since fallen on hard times, and Villa looks a strong bet to reach the semifinals.
FIXTURES (Malaysian time)
March 29
Fulham vs Crystal Palace (8.15pm)
March 30
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest (1.15am)
Preston vs Aston Villa (8.30pm)
Bournemouth vs Manchester City (11.30pm)
