I will show Gareth I’m still keen
MICHAEL KEANE insists he has not given up on his World Cup dream as he prepares for the audition of a lifetime in front of Gareth Southgate over the next two weekends.
The 25-year-old centre-half faces every Premier League defender’s worst nightmare over Everton’s upcoming games as he confronts two of Europe’s most-feared and in-form attacks.
But after being axed from Southgate’s squad for last week’s pre-Russia friendlies, Keane knows his last chance of winning a place in England’s 23 could well depend on how he does against Manchester City today and in next weekend’s Mersey derby. He said: “Obviously I was disappointed, everyone wants to represent their country.
“But all I can do is work hard from now until the end of the season. I still believe I’ve got a chance of going to the World Cup. That’s a big aim and a big target for me and I don’t think it’s out of reach.
“I haven’t really spoken to anyone, I’ve not even spoken to the England manager. I’m disappointed but all I can do is keep working hard, try and keep my consistency in my game, like I have the past few weeks. And I’m
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sure if Everton are doing well and I’m playing well in an Everton team that’s winning games, then I’ll have a decent chance.”
Keane lost his place in Southgate’s squad for the friendlies against Holland and Italy to James Tarkowski, the defender who replaced him in Burnley’s starting line-up when he moved to Goodison in a £30million move last summer.
It was the latest body blow in a season during which Keane and Everton have failed to hit the heights that were predicted after a big summer spending spree by former boss Ronald Koeman.
That has placed all the more importance on these consecutive home games with champions-elect City and bitter rivals Liverpool, as Everton look to give their disappointed fans something to cheer about.
And with no more England games to come before Southgate names his provisional squad for Russia, Keane knows a strong personal show against Sergio Aguero, Mo Salah and their all-star team mates could give the national boss a gentle nudge.
“First and foremost I want to finish as high as we can for Everton, but in PEP GUARDIOLA could be one win away from the title tonight – 15 months after doubting whether he could crack it.
Manchester City’s 4-0 defeat at Everton in January 2016 was the heaviest of his managerial career.
It left City 10 points behind Chelsea and Guardiola said: “In that moment there was concern about the results and what we can do to improve.” But he takes City back to the back of your mind I’ve always got England and the World Cup,” he said.
“You can’t not think about that so if I can play well myself, while getting results, then even better. Hopefully I can give Gareth something to think about and a decision to make.”
The visit of Pep Guardiola’s team to Goodison offers Everton a painful reminder of what might have been. In City’s opening home game of the season in August, Everton took the lead through Wayne Rooney and came away with a point after a late Raheem Sterling equaliser, making Keane’s outfit the only side to pick up a point at the Etihad this season. Since then, Keane has seen Koeman and caretaker boss David Unsworth Goodison today knowing a win would set them up to clinch the title in the Manchester derby next Saturday.
“Of course you think, ‘It’s not going well, we are not winning, what do we have to do?’ That is normal,” said Guardiola. “All managers think the same when they don’t win. At that moment I felt we’ll try until the end but if it doesn’t work, I’ll go home, another one will come in. I also make way for Sam Allardyce and Everton suffer through one of the most anticlimactic campaigns in Premier League history. “It’s a mystery,” he said. “But, as all football clubs do, you have to move on and we need to keep looking forward now instead of looking behind us, look at next season and try and give it a push again. “The club is destined to get to the top, or near to the top, of the Premier League and it’s where the club deserves to be, where the club should be.” ●William Hill is the proud partner of Everton FC. For all of the latest Premier League odds and specials visit williamhill.com thought if next season is not going well, if it’s the same, then the club would decide, ‘OK Pep, you’re not good enough to do what you want to do with those players’ and they’d make a change.”
But Guardiola never thought about abandoning his football philosophy. His faith has paid off with City set to smash Premier League records for most points, wins and goals as well as the widest winning margin. But Guardiola says City may face a battle to keep Raheem Sterling.
The England forward, whose contract runs to 2020, will open talks over a new deal in the summer aware Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are keen. “He knows how important he is to us,” added Guardiola.
John Stones is out today with concussion.
RICHARD TANNER attitude and his commitment, but Palace manager Roy Hodgson said: “I have never had any reason to doubt him. He has done very well for us, he leads by example.”
Klopp is confident Liverpool are in better shape to cope with the pressure of the run-in than 12 months ago.
The Reds are battling on two fronts with a Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City on the horizon and the runners-up spot in the Premier League in their sights.
“The intensity of the games did cause us a few problems last season but now we have had the opportunity to change and rotate,” said Klopp.