Big games is why we play football, says Bournemouth’s Cook

Bournemouth defender Steve Cook said he relishes playing against the top quality sides in the Premier League.

The Cherries lost 3-1 to leaders Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium at the weekend, and face an equally tough trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the early kick-off at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Spurs secured a sixth win on the spin with a convincing 4-0 win over Watford, but Cook will be hoping to keep out the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min when the sides meet in north London.

And rather than get downbeat after the defeat to Chelsea, 25-year-old Cook insists footballers live for the big occasions against the best sides in the country.

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

“This is why we’re playing football, to play against these top quality sides,” said Cook. “It is tough physically and mentally but this is what we’re paid to do.

“The good thing is that the next game’s round the corner and hopefully we can put this right and move back up the table.

“We’ll be working through Spurs’ strengths and weaknesses next week but before that we’ll recover after playing against a very tough side.

“You learn every game. Hopefully I can keep improving when I play and that’s the only way you are going to improve and learn.”