THE KEANE MACHINE
Last season to this has been like night to day..we’ve all improved as a team but now is the time for us to take the next big step
THERE is a new confidence in Michael Keane which flows through the whole club at Everton.
It is seven clean sheets in the Toffees’ last nine games, there is a cautious optimism they have turned a corner under Marco Silva and a European place is still in their thoughts.
Keane, 26, has won his place back in the England squad and feels that Everton are on the threshold of exciting times when they can try to break into the top six in the future.
“I think that’s the next step,” said Keane. “For five or six years now, Everton have been around the top six or been top of the pile of the clubs behind the top six.
“But we need to try and push on and I’m sure the owners have that in their mind as well.
“I think it’s really exciting times with the new stadium as well, which is in the pipeline.
“We need to come together next season and take the next step to be in Europe.” Keane pinpoints the Merseyside derby back in March as a turning point for the club, a real coming together moment for Everton.
Keane was outstanding that day against Liverpool at Goodison Park and, even though there has been turbulence this season, that was the day when it became clear Silva needs time – but his methods are working.
“It was massive for us. The whole club came together that day – the fans, the players, everyone. I’ve never played in an atmosphere like that at Goodison,” said the centre-half (below, challenging Mo Salah in that goalless derby). “You can see improvement in individual players as well as the team.
“It takes a while to get used to a new manager’s style and to understand your role. We’re at a point now where everyone knows that.
“You can see we’ve improved throughout the season, we need to finish strongly and I’m sure they’ll strengthen in the summer.
“I need to keep my consistency going and play my best week-in, week-out. But, compared to last season, it’s been night and day. I know I can still improve and hopefully I’ll keep improving and the fans will see that next year.”
Keane is an eloquent talker, popular with the staff because of his polite and respectful manner. He passed A Levels in physics, chemistry and biology while studying by himself as he started his career at Manchester United.
Many believe that if Sir Alex Ferguson had stuck around then Keane would have got more of a chance at United, but, instead, it was at Burnley where his career really kicked on and he established himself both as a Premier League defender, but also an England international.
Keane said: “I think it was massive for my development to go to Burnley. I started off in the Premier League, we got relegated but you learn a lot from that.
“In the Championship, you have so many good times when you’re in a team which is winning – and you win a trophy.
“Everyone treated me well and I’m still in touch with a lot of them now, so it will be nice to see them on Friday.
“But it’s a big game for us, we’re still pushing for seventh and we need to win it.”