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JUSTIN Kluivert says the Cherries are headed for the top after a winning end to a record-breaking season against Leicester City.
Bournemouth comfortably beat the relegated Foxes 2-0 on Sunday to finish ninth in the Premier League on 56 points, and Kluivert told the Daily Echo after the game that the squad is hungry to go again and break more records next season.
The Dutchman expressed his pride at the final day performance and the season as a whole, and said: “It was the highest we could have achieved this last day and we achieved it.
Match report:
Semenyo brace powers Cherries to Foxes win and top ten finish
“So I'm super proud of what we did this season and we can be as a whole club, as everybody, super proud of what we have achieved this season for sure.”
The Cherries equalled their best ever finish in the top flight, and broke records including the most points and most goals scored.
(Image: Richard Crease)
It did take the Cherries until the 76th minute to break the deadlock, but Kluivert said he was sure they would score.
“Just throwing everything at them while we can and just until they break,” he said on the game.
“Last games they've done incredible actually. And what I always said, there's no bad team in the Premier League. The level is so high and even Leicester, I know they already went down, but you see that they have quality.
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“So yes, it's beautiful to have a win and to end up in the top 10.”
Looking at their season as a whole, Kluivert said: “I think we would have taken this for sure at the beginning of the season.
“But what I said, we're just super proud of what we have achieved and this is just the next step for the club to where we want to head.”
(Image: Richard Crease)
The forward scored 12 goals in a Cherries shirt this campaign, and reflecting on his own campaign, he said the best is yet to come.
“I'm super pleased, I'm super happy how the season went and I'm just getting more energised if I think about the next season and what I said, I'm feeling that I'm going to come in my best years upcoming,” Kluivert said.
“So I can't wait until the season is going to start again for sure.”
Sunday’s game saw Dean Huijsen leave the club for Real Madrid, but Kluivert is optimistic that some players departing is all part of the progress for the club.
“It's always good that players leave and as you saw like Solanke, our top striker left, but we only got better,” he said.
“I think that's the norm.
(Image: Richard Crease)
“That's what we need to do also. We need to keep changing, keep rotating and that's the key. And the club has done a great job on that and I believe they will do in the future also.”
On where the team can get to, Kluivert said: “Who knows? It's the top.
“So we'll give our all. And as we did this year, even better than last year.
“And we're going to want to do better than this year for sure next year.”