BREAK WILL DO EU GOOD INSISTS RON
® from TIM GRAY in Split RONALD KOEMAN thinks Wayne Rooney’s decision to call time on his England career can only help Everton and the player himself.
The Toffees boss believes the Merseyside club’s involvement in the Europa League this season will place huge demands on the forward, even without the added burden of international football.
It will take 19 matches – half a Premier League season – for Everton to win Europe’s second-tier club competition.
With domestic cup competitions as well they could be facing 60-plus games this campaign.
Koeman insists he did not influence Rooney’s decision, saying it was the player himself who chose to call time on his international career to ensure he is in tip-top shape as he looks to help Everton end their 22-year trophy drought.
Respect
He said: “I think it’s a good decision for him and Everton. Wayne spoke to me about this, he had a talk with the national coach and he made his decision. He thinks it’s the best for Everton.
“I didn’t give him advice. I’m not the right person in his decision.
“Of course, if we reach the group stage of the Europa League there’s international duty on top, then that’s really a tough programme.
“But his fitness is really good and it’s up to the player to decide what is best to do.
“I would have respected it if he had made a different decision.
“Now it means that he can have some days off during international breaks.” Rooney has finished his England career as the country’s record goalscorer and most capped outfield player.
But Koeman says the striker knew it was time to call it a day and added: “There is a time to come and a time to go. He made that decision. Your body is the main reason to say, ‘Stop’.”
Rooney has figured in all eight of Everton’s preseason and competitive games since rejoining from Manchester United and will start tonight at Hajduk Split, where Everton will defend a 2-0 first-leg lead as they bid to clinch a place in the group stages.
The Everton manager admits that progress in the competition will impact on the club’s domestic performances and agreed with United boss Jose Mourinho that the Premier League could do more to help Europa League qualifiers with kinder fixture scheduling.
Everton played Man City on Monday and after flying home from tonight’s game they face a 1.30pm kick-off at Chelsea on Sunday. “Maybe they don’t care enough for European football,” Koeman said.