City open a new era at the Etihad this afternoon, but the visitors have a fresh start of their own to think about — and a familiar face to see on the other side.
Bournemouth arrive on the back of the best Premier League season in their history — sixth place, 57 points, European qualification for the first time — and promptly lost the manager who built it.
Andoni Iraola left for Liverpool this summer, and it’s Marco Rose, formerly of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, taking his first Premier League game in the away dugout today.
A familiar face in City colours
There’s an added edge to this one for the travelling support. Antoine Semenyo left Bournemouth for City back in January, in a deal reportedly worth up to £64m — a club-record sale for the Cherries.
He’s set to line up against his old side for the second time since making the move, and Bournemouth fans won’t need reminding what they lost: 10 Premier League goals in the season he left, plus a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham in his final game for the Cherries.
The summer business, and the absence that changes today’s team news
Rose has had longer than most incoming managers to get his ideas across, at least. Two of Bournemouth’s three permanent signings arrived at least three weeks before a ball was kicked, and pre-season brought wins over St Pauli and Genoa alongside a draw with Real Betis.
The headline arrival was defensive: Marcos Senesi’s move to Tottenham left a gap at centre-back, filled by António Silva’s switch from Benfica, a deal worth up to £25.7m for a 22-year-old with 20 caps for Portugal.
Just as significant is who Bournemouth managed to keep.
Alex Scott spent much of the window being linked with a move to City, and the club made their intention to hold onto him unmistakable.
If Rose can get more from him in the final third, Scott looks the player most likely to define Bournemouth’s season.
Kroupi blow
One player who won’t be involved today is Eli Junior Kroupi. The 19-year-old top-scored for Bournemouth in all competitions last season and looked to be pushing towards a bigger move of his own before fracturing a metatarsal in pre-season.
He’s expected to be out until November — a considerable blow before a ball’s even been kicked competitively under the new manager.
Djordje Petrovic continues in goal, with Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson offering the kind of proven Premier League end product Rose will lean on early, particularly with Kroupi sidelined.
None of this makes Bournemouth favourites at the Etihad — few sides are, whatever era City happen to be in. But also this won’t be a team simply making up the numbers on the opening weekend.
A top-half finish and a maiden European campaign have raised the bar at Dean Court, and Rose inherits a squad with genuine Premier League pedigree even without last season’s top scorer and the player who left for City itself.
How his side copes with that from the first whistle will say plenty about both clubs’ seasons ahead.
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