NOW TOWNSEND GETS A CHANCE TO FACE LEGEND
MAN UNITED V EVERTON 12.30PM, BT SPORT
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HE HAS idolised him, learnt from him and even played FIFA as him.
And today Everton winger Andros Townsend finally gets to play against Cristiano Ronaldo.
Townsend was captivated by Ronaldo as a kid coming through the ranks at Tottenham’s academy.
He was mesmerised by his step-overs and ‘knuckle ball’ and would spend hours on the training pitch, trying to perfect his tricks.
“Him at Man United, that was my era growing up,” Townsend told Express Sport ahead of the launch of the FIFA 22 video game.
“I’d just come out of school, I was going into full-time football and he was at the top of his game.
“He was one of my idols, a player who I looked at to improve my game. I wanted to copy the best player in the world and, at that time, it was Cristiano Ronaldo. “He was a winger who was tricky and quick and he invented things we hadn’t seen before, like the way he struck a ball for his knuckle ball, his step-overs.
“He got us all on the training pitch trying to work out how he got so much movement with his knuckle ball, how he did step-overs that quick.”
It is clear from how Townsend talks about Ronaldo the returning United star has been a major influence, and he has been inspired by his rise from humble beginnings.
“Ronaldo was somebody I could identify with because, like him, I didn’t have the world at my feet at 10, 11 or 12,” said the 30-year-old.
“When he first came to England he was very raw. He had to work hard to improve his game to the point where, a few years later, he was the best player in the world.
“Someone like myself, who dedicates myself to football, I appreciate him because of all the hard work he’s put into his game.”
Townsend’s graft is paying off, scoring four goals and making three assists to fuel Everton’s fine start.
Yet he shoots down the suggestion that he rivals Ronaldo, 36, as the signing of the summer. “I don’t think you can ever compare me with Cristiano,” he said.
Shaping Townsend now is Rafa Benitez and he gave an insight into how demanding the Everton manager is.
He revealed Benitez told him off after the win over Burnley, despite Townsend scoring and making an assist.
“He had a go at me, saying, ‘I didn’t want you to play wide, I wanted you to play inside – and for your goal, 60 per cent of goals are bottom corner’.
“I went top for my goal, so when I scored and got an assist he didn’t pat me on the back and say, ‘well done’.
“He said, ‘Yes, you scored a great goal but if you go bottom corner, you’ll ultimately have more success. You got the assist from out wide but if we get you inside in the pocket, you will score more goals in better positions’.
“I went into training that week thinking about what he said and how I can improve.”
Townsend was speaking ahead of the launch of EA SPORTS FIFA 22 which is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and other platforms. To order, head to www.ea.com