As the 4th round of the Premier League is approaching a tough match against Chelsea, Bournemouth manager Ilora gave an interview to the media before the match, giving a comprehensive analysis of his team's current situation, the opponent's situation and the upcoming match.
Regarding Kepa's avoidance of Chelsea due to loan rules, Ilora said he understands and is ready to deal with the situation: "We knew the rules before Kepa joined us on loan, and that he couldn't play against Chelsea. However, we were prepared for that and Travers will start. He's done well in previous games and I'm sure he can continue to play well and contribute to the team."
Talking about the team's injury situation, Ilaura revealed the latest progress in his recovery, "Tyler Adams is still actively recovering his body and is progressing well. However, Ouattara had an unfortunate injury during the national team game, spraining his ankle, which was a bit of a blow for us. The good news though is that Brooks has been training normally for two weeks now and Younal is expected to play in the game, which will add more options to the team."
Speaking about the pre-match preparations, Ilaura expressed his adaptation to the special schedule: "The preparation for this match was really a bit unusual because we had almost two weeks to prepare, but actually during those two weeks we spent most of the time training with 9 or 10 players. When all the players return, we will only have one or two days left for final preparations. However, this situation is the same for every team, and we need to get in shape and adjust to the pace of the game as soon as possible."
Ilora spoke highly of the Chelsea team he will be facing: "Chelsea under Maresca has some similarities with last season, as they have retained many of their core players, which makes them still a strong team. Tactically, Chelsea have shown three different game structures in the first three rounds of matches, which shows that they have a wealth of tactical options and a strong pool of players. It's going to be a tough game, but we are confident of meeting the challenge."
Speaking about the time of the game, Ilaura expressed her preference for evening kickoffs: "It's probably easier for me to adapt to important games being played at night. Because in Spain it's very common to have an 8 p.m. kickoff on a Saturday night. I like this arrangement and I remember when I was a player I liked the atmosphere of playing at night."
In addition, Ilaura also spoke highly of new signing Evanilson and the team's contract extension Adam Smith: "During the international match day, we had more time alone with Evanilson and clarified to him what we want from him. I think he has gained a deeper understanding of the team's style of play and will contribute more to the team. As for Adam Smith, he is a very good player with a great read on the game. He realizes that once he reaches a certain point in his career, he has to work hard for the opportunity to continue playing in the Premier League. He has done that and the extension is a reward he deserves."
