Seoul Gazette - Rose salutes Bournemouth's past heroes ahead of AC Milan clash

NYSE - LSE

RYCEF	0.96%	17.67	$
RELX	1.04%	39.805	$
GSK	-1.1%	50.08	$
BCC	0.07%	76.332	$
NGG	-0.04%	81.03	$
BTI	-0.85%	58.61	$
BCE	-1.06%	19.86	$
RBGPF	-5.85%	71.25	$
JRI	0.23%	10.655	$
BP	0.89%	49.835	$
VOD	-0.35%	15.825	$
AZN	-0.14%	168.585	$
CMSC	0.38%	19.705	$
CMSD	0.63%	19.814	$
RIO	-1.02%	87.27	$

Rose salutes Bournemouth's past heroes ahead of AC Milan clash

SPORTS 21.10.2026

Rose salutes Bournemouth's past heroes ahead of AC Milan clash / Photo: © AFP

Bournemouth manager Marco Rose paid tribute Wednesday to the team that helped preserve the club's English Football League status as they prepare to face Italian giants AC Milan in a landmark European fixture.

Text size:

The Cherries opened their inaugural Europa League campaign with victory at Real Sociedad and then won 3-0 at home to Sturm Graz last week.

A match at home to AC Milan, one of Europe's leading clubs, was the last thing on Bournemouth fans' minds when the side were on the brink of dropping out of the Football League following a 17-point deduction ahead of the 2008/09 season as a result of failing to meet their terms for exiting administration.

But Steve Fletcher's memorable goal against Grimsby eventually secured survival in Bournemouth's final home game of the season at Dean Court, which was followed by a mass pitch invasion after the final whistle by joyous Cherries fans.

Rose only succeeded Andoni Iraola as Bournemouth boss before the start of this season but the German is well aware of a pivotal moment in the club's history as his side bid to maintain their perfect start to the Europa League.

"We are looking forward to playing it, but I think many years ago the club had a much bigger game after the points reduction," Rose told a pre-match press conference.

"They needed to win the last game at home and Fletch scored a goal –- but it is not about Fletch, it is about the whole team. This is a foundation to be here, to have these kind of games and we are looking forward to play this game.

"It is a huge club of Europe which is coming here, but we feel prepared. We love to play this kind of games and now we are going to go for it."

The Cherries beat Sunderland on Sunday for a first Premier League win under Rose.

Now he wants to use that result as a springboard for continued success against an AC Milan side coached by former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.

"We feel in a good spot," added Rose. "As I said days ago, we had other topics, and now we won two games back to back and we are confident.

"But even before the two games we won, I always told you that I feel confidence in my team. Now we have created a good momentum for us and we should use it."

T.Gil--SG

Featured

Barca's Olmo injured for a month, misses Clasico

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo will miss Sunday's Clasico in La Liga against Real Madrid after being ruled out for around a month through injury on Wednesday.

'Complete threat' Ngumoha excites Liverpool captain Van Dijk

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said there was "much more to come" from Rio Ngumoha following the teenage winger's central role in a thrilling Champions League win over Villarreal.

Jansen takes five for South Africa as Australia forced to follow on

Marco Jansen took five wickets as Australia crashed to 99 all out in reply to South Africa's first innings of 425-9 declared on the fourth day of the second Test at St George's Park on Wednesday.

PSG winger Kvaratskhelia's season in doubt after torn ACL

Paris Saint-Germain could be without star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the rest of the season after he tore his ACL in the Champions League win against Barcelona while Ousmane Dembele also faces weeks out of action, the European champions said on Wednesday.