ANDONI Iraola has described as a “great challenge” his move to Cherries, adding: “I am really grateful for the opportunity.”

Spaniard Iraola arrived at the club this week, after being appointed as boss on June 19, replacing Gary O’Neil.

The 41-year-old is set to meet his squad this weekend, as they return for pre-season.

In his first interview since joining Cherries, the former Rayo Vallecano boss told afcbTV: “I’m really pleased, really grateful for the opportunity that AFC Bournemouth has given me.

“Now I know the challenge. I want to start working with the players as soon as possible and I think it’s an exciting challenge for me.

“We have to get ready, because it’s not going to be easy, we know this. We know the Premier League, it is going to be tough. But we have to be prepared.”

Bournemouth Echo: Andoni Iraola has given his first interview as Cherries boss

Asked what the past 10 days have entailed, since being confirmed as the club’s new boss, Iraola said: “A lot of work, even if officially I was on holiday. A lot of video, a lot of new faces, new players.

“One of the reasons I am here is because I love a lot of the players we already have in the squad.

“I love the work-rate they have. I am really looking forward to starting with them, to try and help them as much as possible.”

He added: “We have to change some things, because obviously we have our own ideas.

“But a lot of things that were well done, we want to maintain them, to keep a lot of familiar faces.

“I think it is a family club, which is what I love. I’m used to working with these kind of clubs.

“That’s something we cannot lose.”

Cherries get their Premier League season underway against West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on August 12.

They currently have one new signing confirmed this summer in Justin Kluivert, with more anticipated.

Looking ahead to the pre-season schedule, which includes a 10-day trip to Spain, Iraola said: “I think we have time, we have to work well in these five or six weeks before we start the season.

“Obviously the club is doing their job with the transfer window, but I am more concerned really to work with the players we already have.

“I think we have very good players and the club is trying to improve the team with new signings who can help us, but I think the core of the group will be the same.”

After facing West Ham, Cherries round off August with tricky fixtures against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

“I am coming to the best league in the world right now, for sure,” said Iraola.

“You only have to look at the schedule, we have strong matches to start. I think that is a good thing, a good challenge to face the best coaches.

“I will try to apply my ideas, try to maintain a lot of the things that are being well done and then try to make little changes, sometimes bigger changes, so we can play probably a kind of different style.”