TO SIT ON THE FENCE IN THE GREAT RELEGATION QUESTION

Begovic: The League is so tough, so tight.. when you win it feels like finding gold dust

ASMIR BEGOVIC insists Southampton’s season should be a warning to every club.

Bournemouth keeper Begovic, 30, will not be found gloating – even though the Cherries could help send their South Coast neighbours down this weekend.

Instead, Begovic sees it as a reminder of the fine margins in the Premier League.

Between being a Burnley one season and involved in a relegation scrap the next.

That is why former Stoke No.1 Begovic believes Bournemouth should take particular pride in the way that Eddie Howe is building the club and laying down long-term foundations.

Begovic told me (right): “The Premier League is so tough, no-one is safe and if things don’t go your way – with a bit of bad luck, injuries – then it can be the same for anyone.

“It shows you what can be done in this league – it’s so close. One year it can be Burnley, the next year it can go against you and it can go like it has for Southampton or Stoke. I think if we can finish above Southampton that would show our progression – how far we’ve come – and we want to keep picking up points in these last three games.

“I had a great time with Stoke, a good relationship with Mark Hughes, a good couple of seasons under him and I hope things work out for them.

“But if it doesn’t, Stoke have great ownership, great stability. If anyone can bounce straight back then they can.

“Like Southampton, if you have a bad patch then you can be in trouble and that seems to be the case again with Stoke.

“The Premier League is close, it’s so tight, tough to win games and whenever you can get three points it’s like gold dust.

“We’ll see where we finish this year, hopefully we can finish mid-table again and if you keep getting better as a team and individuals, then that’s the target.

“Hopefully we can push on in the domestic cups and build the squad, improve and really move forward as a club. What Burnley have done, four points off Arsenal now, what Leicester did by winning the title, gives everyone hope.”

Begovic is always engaging and one of the top flight’s deeper thinkers.

And that is why he has been so keen to give something back by setting up his own charity foundation.

But it was a difficult decision when, having gone to such a big club as Chelsea, he got the call last summer from Bournemouth. The chance to play every week again was too much to turn down.

Begovic went through Bournemouth’s difficult start – just one win in their first eight games – and has come out the other side believing the club is really going places under Howe.

The Bosnian said: “Eddie is Bournemouth through and through, really passionate about the club, all the players and he wants to keep it progressing. He’s a good guy to work with.

“He’s got a tremendous work ethic. His player development skills are very impressive.

“He cares about every individual improving, he gives you targets all the time, he always wants you to progress and never just stand still.

“If you work on one aspect of the game, then he will push you to work on another to try and make you a better player. That’s his whole philosophy.

“The way he does that is fantastic and we as a team grow as a result.

“His attention to detail and philosophy is first class.

“Eddie has taken players through the divisions, developed them and helped them play at the highest level.

“I’ve had nice moments like saving penalties in the last minute, some mistakes and you need some luck.

“But playing every game and being back in the Premier League atmosphere has been the highlight for me.

“The atmosphere is fantastic, our stadium is so close, I’m not sure that anyone looks forward to coming here but we love it.

“Our fans are behind us and it’s a fun place to play.”