Rose demands Bournemouth reaction to Chelsea 'real slap' in Europa League bow vs Sturm Graz

Bournemouth's European night arrives as pressure mounts

Marco Rose has urged his Bournemouth players to produce an immediate reaction to their humbling 5-1 defeat at Chelsea as the club prepares for a historic first European home fixture against Sturm Graz on Thursday.

The Cherries were thumped at Stamford Bridge last weekend, extending their winless run in the Premier League to six matches and leaving them 18th in the standings. The result marked Bournemouth's first consecutive Premier League defeats since December 2025, and they are now winless in their last eight matches in all competitions (D5 L3). It was also the first time Bournemouth had conceded five or more goals in a top-flight match since November 2023, when they were beaten 6-1 by Manchester City.

Rose did not sugarcoat the performance, branding the Chelsea result a "real slap" and challenging his squad to respond in front of their own supporters.

"We want and have to show a reaction. The only good thing out of this game is we got a real slap result-wise," Rose told reporters. "If you start a game like we started, the task gets much more difficult. I felt after the game everyone was really disappointed. We got a real slap, and now we have to show a reaction."

The mood had already been strained before the Chelsea rout. After a 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool on 21 September 2026 — a result that stretched the club's winless Premier League start to five matches — Rose warned that his side would "get no points for looking good." Alexander Isak's 57th-minute strike condemned Bournemouth that day at the Vitality Stadium.

Historic night at the Vitality

Attention now turns to the Europa League, where Bournemouth welcome Sturm Graz to the south coast aiming to build on a 2-1 victory at Real Sociedad in their opening group-stage outing. It will be a landmark occasion: the first time Bournemouth have played a European match in front of their home supporters.

"I understand it very well because I know the club and its history much better now," Rose said of the occasion. "It is an outstanding journey the club have had the last few years with all the things the club suffered. Now we are playing Europe and we have to find the balance. We want to compete everywhere, that is still the plan. Tomorrow we have the chance to show our club for the first time at home in European football. It is a big thing."

A win would see Bournemouth become the first English team to win their opening two matches in a major European competition since Bolton Wanderers in the 2005-06 UEFA Cup.

Scott future put on hold

Rose was also asked about the future of midfielder Alex Scott, who remains sidelined with an injury picked up during the international break with England. Reports have linked the 23-year-old — who joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2023 — with a potential £100m departure in the January transfer window, with the club said to be open to a sale should their valuation be met.

Rose, however, was reluctant to engage with the speculation, insisting the focus is on getting Scott back to fitness.

"We just closed the other transfer window, and we talked about the next one," Rose said. "Me and the club are just focused on the game tomorrow and not commenting on rumours that show up right after the other window closes. We are looking to have him back in a couple of days or weeks, and we will continue with Alex Scott. He is quite committed – that is what everyone can see in the first games."