Daily Mirror

HARD MAN KOEMAN

Ron has read the riot act to his wayward striker but behind the harsh words there’s a boss with a heart

- BY DAVID MADDOCK

RONALD KOEMAN is not a manager you cross, and even someone as tough as Wayne Rooney would not have relished facing him on Tuesday.

He is a hard-hitting, straight-talking tough guy.

Who says so? None other than his wife Bartina.

She was asked for her insight into the Everton manager in a book published in Holland about the national hero, who for so long graced the Dutch team.

Bartina said: “Ronald is not afraid to confront people. He will tell people straight to their face what he thinks.

“If you don’t cause trouble, he is a great guy to be with. But if you mess him about, he will soon tell you what he thinks.

“Ronald hates moaners. Don’t come up to him and start moaning about things. He hates those kind of people. He wants people around him who give him energy and who are happy.”

So earlier this week, when Koeman and under-fire Rooney held what have been described as “very direct” talks, the Goodison chief no doubt made clear what he expects from one of his most senior players.

There were suggestion­s beforehand that Rooney, following the drink-driving charge which undermined a fine start to his Goodison return, might be sent packing.

Yet it seems this famous disciplina­rian is prepared to offer the benefit of the doubt...and a second chance.

Koeman has watched Rooney closely in training and seen there are no football reasons to exclude the 31-year-old from the Everton first-team squad. Nor, at this stage, are there any moral reasons to prevent his selection either. He will, the manager said, play against Spurs tomorrow.

Koeman pointed out that he recalled Oumar Niasse to his first-team squad after previously telling him he would never play for Everton, and has also not totally ruled out a first-team return for want-away England midfielder Ross Barkley.

Asked if he was prepared to give players chances, the Dutchman replied: “Yes. I like to have discipline in my group and in my team and I like to have discipline on and off the pitch.

“But I am also a human being.

“If I think it is the right thing to do I will be the first to change.”

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright also spoke at length to former England captain Rooney, and the responsibi­lities

of such an experience­d and admired player were the chief subject for discussion. Koeman, perhaps subconscio­usly, expressed as much when he explained that he has a young squad which still needs nurturing. “It is important for them also to have older players in the team who they can learn from,” he said, without a trace of irony. That is Rooney’s job at Goodison in the twilight of his career. And that is the lifeline the player has been offered. The words will have been typically direct. The striker needs to behave and, most importantl­y, he needs to show Everton’s youngsters how to behave.

 ??  ?? BUBBLE AND STRIFE The scene of Rooney’s night out POINT OF ORDER Rooney enjoys a chat with Leighton Baines after some hard work on the training ground yesterday
BUBBLE AND STRIFE The scene of Rooney’s night out POINT OF ORDER Rooney enjoys a chat with Leighton Baines after some hard work on the training ground yesterday

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