Bournemouth host Manchester Metropolis within the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday, close to the tip of a outstanding season for the south coast membership.
Although they’ve dropped to tenth in latest matches, the Cherries are nonetheless in with an actual shot of European soccer subsequent season, having surged into the highest half this time period.
Guided by the experience of Andoni Iraola, they now face a struggling Manchester Metropolis with simply 4 factors between the 2 golf equipment within the desk.
Bournemouth are on the march – can they topple Manchester Metropolis?
Bournemouth celebrates beating Wolves within the fifth spherical (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Bournemouth nonetheless have two routes to Europe – by way of the league, the place even a Champions League place is just not but past them, or by way of the FA Cup , with a Europa League spot on supply to the winners.
Liverpool , Arsenal , Chelsea and Newcastle United have already been eradicated from the FA Cup this time period, plus ailing Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur , so there’s actual potential for a shock bundle to elevate the trophy.
Former Manchester Metropolis defender Danny Mills (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
“Bournemouth have been excellent this season, and it’s not a straightforward place to go,” former Manchester Metropolis defender Danny Mills tells FourFourTwo of his outdated membership’s possibilities on the south coast.
“Though it’s not probably the most hostile of grounds, it’s small, fairly distinctive and Bournemouth have a manner of enjoying in the meanwhile the place confidence is extremely excessive.
“They’ve performed some excellent soccer, obtained nice outcomes and Metropolis have had so many gamers away on worldwide responsibility, then are having to go straight to Bournemouth. We’ve seen glimpses with Metropolis of what they are often, however they’re not constant, so I believe Bournemouth can be considering ‘We’ve obtained an actual alternative to get a outcome’.”
Usually, a tie between Bournemouth and Manchester Metropolis would see an enormous gulf between the golf equipment, however not this season.
Bournemouth can be assured towards Manchester Metropolis (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
“The most effective groups have one of the best gamers, and to have one of the best gamers you spend probably the most cash, so Metropolis must be up there, undoubtedly,” Mills says, talking in affiliation with On line casino Apps .
“Clearly so many issues have gone a bit awry this season, it’s been the right storm, it’s been storm after storm that they’ve needed to take care of, which hasn’t been straightforward. That is the FA Cup, I don’t assume Bournemouth have ever received it, so what a possibility for them and their supervisor to make an actual mark.
“If I used to be Bournemouth, I’d be considering ‘If we are able to get by way of this tie, there’s no-one to cease us’.”
