Dubai: AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has denied that getting the Cherries promoted to the English Premier League (EPL) would be the completion of unfinished business for him personally.
As a player, the 37-year-old Englishman moved from Bournemouth to Portsmouth in 2002 and would have been part of Pompey’s successful promotion to the EPL under Harry Redknapp had he not suffered a career-threatening knee injury on his debut.
Now on the cusp of making it into the top flight as a coach with Bournemouth, Howe said he wasn’t looking at the situation personally.
“I’ve never looked at it like that,” he told Gulf News on the sidelines of the club’s training camp at Dubai Sports City last month. “Yes, of course, when my injury happened it was a big blow to me personally because a lot of dreams were left on the treatment table.
“But I haven’t looked at my coaching career as a substitute to that, it’s just the next best thing to playing and something I really enjoy. I’ve never really looked at the bigger picture, it’s just about small steps and, when you manage, it’s really a week-to-week basis.”
Asked what it was that had enabled him to lead Bournemouth from the bottom of the fourth tier and adminstration to the cusp of the EPL, Howe replied: “Our success has been based on hard work and a really good group of players who have given everything to the cause. There’s no secret to success — it’s hard work, making sure the lads are as organised and fit as they can be, and that has got us a long way.”
Three ‘cup final’ games now remain for Bournemouth in the Championship, but Howe has said his players have always looked at each game with such importance.
“We’ve looked at it as 46 cup finals because of our history and where the club has come from to be in this position. It’s an amazing story,” he said.
“We’re really looking forward to the run-in to see where it will take us.”
