The manager repeated: “This is his fourth or fifth season in the Premier League”. Turned the tide in Everton’s favour with his equaliser and worked tirelessly to win key balls and set his side on the front foot until leaving to a standing ovation with a minute remaining.
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Everton manager Ronald Koeman has lauded his side’s mindset after recovering from 1-0 down to claim a 3-1 win against Middlesbrough at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The manager also signalled discussions have begun between Lukaku and the club over a new contract. “You get game time for your national team because you play at a good level for your club”, added Koeman.
Koeman was critical of Barkley after Monday’s win Sunderland, when the England midfielder was taken off at half-time, but the response was noticeable.
“I don’t think we could [do “a Leicester”]”, the Dutchman told the media at Finch Farm today, “but you never know”.
Prior to the ‘Boro match, Gueye had played essentially alongside Barry in a traditional 4-2-3-1 – yes, the Senegalese midfielder had played slightly more forward than the Englishman, but there was little doubt he was playing as a holding midfielder, rather than as a box-to-box player.
“It was really enjoyable how we played”.
Barkley – left out of Sam Allardyce’s first England squad – was withdrawn at the Stadium of Light after losing possession too often, Koeman said at a news conference. We had to be more aggressive. Given they’ve “only” played Stoke, Sunderland, Fulham, West Brom and Palace so far, things aren’t going to get any easier in that regard.
Under Koeman Everton failed to buckle after falling behind to an early goal at West Bromwich Albion while, at home to Stoke City, after Marko Arnautovic hit the post and John Walters fluffed a late chance to equalise, they edged out a game to narrowly win a game that a year ago one suspects they may have lost.
“Of course, I try to be honest about players but sometimes you can’t always say what you think about players because you need to keep it inside”.
“After that we had a reaction and we saw the Everton we expect at home”. “Ross was one of the happiest players on Monday night even though he may not have been particularly delighted with his own performance”, the defender said.
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“Maybe we were the better team and more clinical, and we controlled the game well in the second 45 minutes. It’s hard but Everton are trying to keep him at the football club”.
