AFC Bournemouth's Neto on team believing in themselves

Cherries are completing the final preparations ahead of their season opener with West Ham next weekend, playing their last friendly of pre-season against FC Lorient tomorrow (5pm).

This summer has seen Andoni Iraola appointed as head coach, the Basque bringing over a new aggressive style of play.

Whilst on the books at Barcelona, Neto crossed paths with the Spaniard, watching on from the bench as his team were defeated by Iraola’s Rayo Vallecano twice in the 2021-22 season.

The Brazilian told Cherries website: “We played them twice and they won both games.

“You could see the intensity his team played with and every player was at their max level.

“It’s very exciting and very positive to have him here.

“We need time and we are having this time to understand the new ideas and the wishes of the coach.

“Everybody has to give 100 per cent. Whether we are playing Manchester City, Brentford or Crystal Palace, we have our ideas.

"We believe in ourselves and are going to do it like this, like we do every day in training.”

At 34, Neto is one of the more experienced heads in the Cherries dressing room. He believes that last season’s survival battle will help Cherries’ younger players this term, stating that they now have a better understanding of the pressures of top-flight football.

He explained: “The pressure to fight relegation is bigger.

"When you are playing to win a championship, every player has 100 per cent confidence.

"They know what they have to do and the motivation is high because, if you win, you achieve your objective.

“When you are battling relegation, it’s difficult. There were a lot of clubs in the same situation last season, good clubs with good players, and every team wants to survive.

“The pressure was massive and I think it will help us this season.

“The young players and the players who had never played in the Premier League understand what is expected so I’m very positive for the season.”