Rose "Can't Wait" to Experience Vitality Atmosphere as New Era Begins

AFC Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose has outlined his vision for the club ahead of his first Premier League season, insisting he wants to preserve the identity established under Andoni Iraola while helping the Cherries take the next step during a historic campaign.

Rose takes charge following Iraola's departure, with Bournemouth preparing for their maiden European campaign alongside the demands of the Premier League and domestic cup competitions.

Speaking to talkSPORT's Alex Crook, the German explained that his early conversations with Iraola had been positive, although football had not been the sole focus.

"We just spoke about personal things", Rose said. "Of course, we talked about the team and the club and I was listening. He had some questions about my coaching career".

"It was quite interesting... Andoni is a really great person".

Rose revealed that joining Bournemouth was a "conscious decision", having been impressed by the people running the club before analysing a squad he quickly felt could suit his approach.

"I got to know the people", he explained. "Then I started to analyse the team, the way they play, and I figured out quite soon and quick that it could be a good fit for the club and a good fit for me as a coach".

"So far my experience is really good. All the things I expected, or Thiago told me, came true and that's a good sign for me that the club is very consistent and in a good spot."

One of the biggest questions surrounding Rose's appointment has been how closely his style will resemble the high-energy, attacking football that helped Bournemouth reach new heights under Iraola.

The 49-year-old believes maintaining that identity will be central to his work.

"That's the culture, this is the identity of the club", Rose said. "I think that's why the club became successful in the last years. My job is to maintain it, to improve it maybe in a couple of things, and then we talk about some changes in possession maybe, but the approach stays the same."

Rose has also been encouraged by Bournemouth's ability to retain the core of a squad that secured European qualification, highlighting the importance of keeping the group competitive ahead of an unprecedented season.

"The club made the decision to keep the squad together because it's our first time in Europe and we need to stay competitive", he said. Naturally, among those Rose hopes will remain at the club is Alex Scott, with the midfielder continuing to be linked to other clubs.

"I would love it", Rose admitted. "I think he knows that he is here in a good place. He made a great improvement. He became a very important player and he's still young, so there's no ceiling for him in my opinion".

With European football bringing an increased workload, Rose believes the coming season could be an important stage in Scott's development.

"Now we play Europe, so it means more responsibility for him, more games, and it could be a really good step for him this season - a next step in his personality and his improvement as a player, to get a real leader".

Showing off his knowledge about the club, Rose also acknowledged the significance of Bournemouth's remarkable journey, from financial uncertainty and the threat of dropping out of the Football League to competing on the European stage.

"It’s a special story and we should use the story, we should maintain the story", he said. "We should stay humble because we know that the club had really difficult times and now the sun is shining. We should always be competitive and ambitious. That's very important".

However, the new boss warned that Bournemouth will enter the season with a different status to previous campaigns.

"We have to answer ourselves some questions. Are we still sharp enough? Are we still hungry enough? Do we know that teams around, or everyone around, maybe observe us from a different angle? I'm quite sure that nobody will underestimate AFC Bournemouth anymore".

Furthermore, Rose believes the key to another successful season will be resilience, particularly with Bournemouth competing across multiple fronts.

"If we are resilient, then I'm quite sure that everything is possible", he added.

Despite managing at some of Europe's biggest stadiums during his career, Rose is relishing the prospect of experiencing the atmosphere at Vitality Stadium, a stadium that is slowly being expanded from 11,300 seats to over 20,000.

"I love to play in these kind of stadiums because I know that it's always uncomfortable for the opponent", he said. "I'm very excited about our fans, about our first game against Everton at home. I know that we started to really rebuild the stadium, to make it more comfortable, to make it bigger and to get more fans in. I'm looking forward to get to know our stadium and the atmosphere:.

Rose, who has previously faced Cherries next opponents - Manchester City, in the Champions League while managing Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig, will begin his Premier League journey with a demanding opening fixture.

However, he insists Bournemouth must approach every opponent with the same confidence in their own methods.

"At the end we talk about the Premier League and my experience is you have to play every team and every team is a challenge", Rose said. "We should do it in our way, with our identity. And if we do it, I'm quite sure that we get good points".

As for life away from the training ground, Rose appears to have settled quickly on the south coast, joking that his introduction to council tax had left him "poor".

He has already played golf at Ferndown and Remedy Oak, while also admitting he has enjoyed his first experiences of England and Bournemouth.

"England for me so far is a nice country", Rose said. "Everyone is kind and friendly. I needed to get used to driving an English car on the wrong side, but the way the people are reacting and supporting you, even if you drive your car, is very nice".

For Bournemouth, the challenge now is to ensure that a summer of transition does not interrupt the progress made over recent seasons. Rose's message is clear: the identity remains, the ambition remains, but with European football now added to the schedule, the expectations surrounding the Cherries have changed too.