In this video
- Rose calls the opponent a strong team with high individual quality who play at high intensity. Their coach, who he has known since their time in Germany, is a really top coach, he says, a man who came in, stabilised the team and won the cup that put them in this competition.
- Rose says he can feel how special the moment is and how everyone is looking forward to it. What the club achieved in the Premier League last season was a huge thing for a club this size, he says, and 2,000 travelling supporters show how much it has grown.
- Asked how he will approach the league phase, Rose jokes that they will win the first four games and then not travel any more. It is a simple rule, he says: start well, take the points you can early, and the games you still need get fewer.
- Rose says there is no real master plan and it depends who is available. With a home game against Liverpool on Sunday he has to handle the load, so changes will come earlier than in the opening games, where there was no reason to make them.
- Telling the young winger he was out of the European squad was a tough talk, Rose says, because he had a good pre-season, scored goals, and gives the team a one against one player on the wing that nobody else offers. A change in UEFA's rules let them bring him in.
- Rose says the two have not spoken before this game but will be in touch on Sunday, and that he is looking forward to seeing Iraola again. They talked many times when he signed, and he says his predecessor is a big part of what the club achieved.
- Rose remembers coming to this ground with Salzburg, when the stand on one side was not even there. They have built a really nice stadium, he says, with an atmosphere that is well known in Europe, and that is what his team will face.
Enjoy the evening. Have some beers … not too much because I think tomorrow morning the sunrise is very nice. You should see it.
- Rose says every Premier League weekend is like a Champions League game because it is always tight and the intensity is always at the top level. This opponent plays with that kind of intensity too, he says, so nobody should be surprised when the game starts.
Marco Rose reflects on Bournemouth’s historic first European campaign as the Cherries prepare to face Real Sociedad in their UEFA Europa League opener.
Rose described Bournemouth reaching Europe as a huge achievement, highlighting the club’s rise and the work of players, staff and ownership that helped bring them to this point. Although he only arrived at the club this season, the manager says he feels the significance of the occasion and is proud to lead Bournemouth into their first European fixture.
The Bournemouth boss expects a demanding test against Real Sociedad, praising their individual quality, intensity and European experience. Rose also confirmed that squad management will become increasingly important as Bournemouth balance Europa League football with a busy Premier League schedule.
With around 2,000 travelling supporters expected in San Sebastián, Rose wants Bournemouth to embrace the occasion while remaining focused on competing for three points and making a positive start to their Europa League campaign.
