HE’S ROSS SPARKLY
Koeman believes that goal celebration means his Goodison diamond is happy and ready to dazzle
THE joy is back in Ross Barkley’s game – and that is why he unfurled his infamous goal celebration last week.
That is the message from Everton boss Ronald Koeman, who laughed off the criticism his star midfielder faced after celebrating before he put the ball into the net against Bournemouth.
“It was funny. I know Ross, it wasn’t disrespect to the opponent. It was a moment where he felt it was an easy one,” the manager explained.
Yet there was a deeper reason too. Barkley has come through a period of intense examination and criticism about his performance, and not just from a surprisingly hostile Goodison crowd.
His own boss has also questioned his development, and turned a searing and not always complimentary spotlight on the weaknesses that were evident in the player’s game.
That provoked some self-doubt in the Barkley... and a ‘why always me’ moment, when he spoke with Koeman (below) to ask about being singled out for criticism.
Koeman said: “He mentioned that it is always about him. I said, ‘OK, start to be afraid when they don’t ask about you. Then you need to be afraid.’
“And if the manager is still criticising you as a player it means he still believes in your qualities.”
Koeman’s ‘tough love’ has certainly had an impact, with Barkley now a key provider of the ammunition for deadly striker Romelu Lukaku, and it is that pairing which the Blues hope will win the battle at Middlesbrough.
They visit the Riverside as the form team in the Premier League, and a side that is gunning for a top-four place given the contribution their forward line is making. And Koeman believes his focus on Barkley has helped that.
“Ross is really improving and also playing a different position to one he was playing before. He is more offensive and not one of three midfield players.
“For him that’s more comfortable. I have never doubted his quality. To get the productivity and strengths for the players in front, he is improving. He is more important for the team in the last part of attacking than he was before and that is what I want.”
While Koeman was complimentary towards his midfield star, he was not so amused about comments made by former Everton boss Roberto Martinez, who questioned whether the side’s defending has improved.
The straight-talking Dutchman said: “He speaks nice and like everybody, he is a human being defending himself.
“But it is easy to talk after Bournemouth about the defence but it had three clean sheets in a row before that. And the numbers, the stats, it is still not the end of the season so I will wait to give my good answer.”