My dad’s a legendary Champions League winner – I’m making my own way and will beat his Premier League goal tally
JUSTIN KLUIVERT is eyeing up his dad’s Prem goal tally — and a bit of dosh.
Patrick Kluivert, 47, was one of the great forwards of his generation, scoring a Champions League winner for Ajax in 1995.
He also forged a fearsome partnership with Rivaldo at Barcelona while also netting 40 times in 79 appearances for Holland.
But he found it tough at Newcastle, scoring only six goals back in 2004-05.
Bournemouth winger Kluivert Jr has bagged three already this term in the league, and fancies his chances of overtaking his dad this season — starting with today’s trip to Toon to face pa’s old club. And he is ready to strike a wager as motivation.
The Cherries star, 24, said: “I need to go over him, I need to! Why not?
“I don’t have an ongoing bet with my father but I will make one.
“The second part of the season just started. I think last season at Valencia where I was, I scored two before Christmas.
“And after I scored in total something like eight.
“I want to do here the same, for sure! I think that it’s possible already this season, I will give my 100 per cent.
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“I just need to enjoy the game — and then my qualities will take care of the rest. I played in six countries and scored goals everywhere . . . ”
Having had to live up to such high expectations and carry such a heavy name on your back from an early age would have put most children off.
But not Justin. He has embraced the pressure and said: “Having Patrick Kluivert as a father made me and motivated me.
“It was no pressure but built the person I am today. It just motivated me to fill up these big boots.”
Justin admits he is currently getting more stick than carrot from his dad.
The former Ajax, Roma, RB Leipzig, Nice and Valencia ace says that the Dutch legend is his most devoted supporter but at the same time his fiercest critic.
When things go well on the pitch, his father hardly takes any notice but one mistake and he is straight on his back.
It is this tough love that ensures he does not get too big for his boots and keeps evolving.
Kluivert Jr said: “Dad is my biggest fan and my biggest critic. But he’d tell me first what I did wrong, you know?
“Because what I did good, I know I did good.
“But what I did wrong, he’ll tell me.
“Then, course, as a dad he also tells me what I did right but especially what I did wrong!
“And I listen to what he has to say.”
Bournemouth chief Andoni Iraola has certainly made people listen after a horror start.
He failed to win any of his first nine league games in charge.
But with the Cherries now sitting pretty in 13th position, Kluivert has hailed the Spaniard’s “crazy” turnaround.
He said: “He means a lot for us players.
“When he came we lost a lot at the beginning but we just stayed focused, we knew what he wanted from the team.
“And we didn’t change game plans but kept believing in ourselves and eventually it turned out quite good!
“I have the feeling we’re still improving and we can do much greater things with him as a coach.
“I am looking forward to that.”
Iraola is ready to meet fire-with-fire against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle today.
He is poised to throw his new Turkish striker Enes Unal into battle alongside Dominic Solanke.
Iraola said: “We need goals because Newcastle are an offensive power and it’s going to be a very open game.
“We will press them and they will press us and there will be spaces.”