Bournemouth center-back James Hill has expressed that the arrival of new manager Marco Rose has reignited a sense of ambition among him and his teammates.
Following the departure of previous manager Andoni Iraola, Rose has been tasked with upholding Iraola’s legacy, guiding Bournemouth through their inaugural European campaign while also striving to maintain competitiveness in the Premier League after last season’s impressive sixth-place finish.
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Hill has commended Rose for his positive start and highlighted the coach’s “family-first” philosophy, particularly as the defender prepares for the arrival of his first child.
“In terms of player management, he’s been absolutely fantastic,” Hill shared with club media. “He’s engaged with each of us individually, as well as with the team as a whole. He’s set clear expectations for us, and if we ever fall short, he’s quick to remind us of the standard he knows we can achieve as a group.”
Rose comes to the Vitality Stadium with extensive European coaching experience, having previously managed in both the Champions League and Europa League.
“Since he joined, you can really see how his European experience is shaping our preparations,” Hill noted.
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“Many of his tactical insights are set to enhance our performance. We genuinely want to learn from him, and we’re eagerly anticipating the challenges ahead.”
The German coach led Red Bull Salzburg to the Europa League semi-finals in 2018, and Hill is optimistic that Bournemouth can achieve similar success in the tournament.
“We often discuss within the team: ‘Why not aim high? Why not excel in these competitions?'” Hill remarked.
“Of course, it’s going to be tough given the caliber of the teams involved—they’re extraordinary. But first and foremost, we need to have faith in ourselves.
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“Reflecting on last season, going 18 games unbeaten—who would have imagined we could accomplish that? The club consistently achieves remarkable milestones—breaking our own records is just incredible.”