Ashley: Toffees are a team full of skippers
ASHLEY WILLIAMS has identified a revitalised Wayne Rooney and the club’s glut of natural leaders as key factors in Everton’s impressive start to the season.
Ronald Koeman’s men go to champions Chelsea today, having already taken a point from title favourites Manchester City last Monday night, and the former Manchester United striker has scored in both League games played so far.
Rooney, who has called time on England, is just one of several recognised captains in Koeman’s squad, including Wales skipperWilliams and former Ajax captain Davy Klaassen, as well as Everton’s club skipper Phil Jagielka and his deputy Leighton Baines.
“I’ve never known a team with so many captains in it,” says Williams. “That has to be to our advantage.
“We’re all getting on and working well together. Between us we should be able to sort out problems on the field and guide the young lads because we have a lot of them in the side.
“Wayne certainly doesn’t look like a player who’s thinking about the end of his career.
“He’s a winner and he still wants to win. He’s come in and had a great attitude straight away.
“He uses his experience to help the lads who haven’t been to the places in football that he’s been.
“It’s definitely not feet-up for him. He’s been working hard every day in training and pushing the team.”
Williams believes that Everton set down a marker with their performance at the Etihad last Monday, and insists they will have no qualms about going to Stamford Bridge, where they lost 5-0 last season.
“We would have taken the draw at City before the game but in the end we were disappointed not to come away with three points,” he says.
“There’s no reason for us to fear going to big grounds. If we want to make the next step, that’s what we must do.
“I’m not sure whether the money our club has spent has elevated us into same group as the teams in front us.
“We won’t know until the end of the season, but that’s where we want to be and what everyone is talking about.
“All the pundits said Everton would finish seventh again, but nobody is fussed by what others say. We’re trying to push on and do better. That’s the aim.”
Williams acknowledges that it will be different facing a Chelsea without Diego Costa, but points out Everton themselves now have an awkward physical presence up front in 20-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
“Costa is a difficult player, everyone knows his qualities,” he says. “I’ve never faced Alvaro Morata but Costa missing would be a bonus for any team.
“But young Dom is also a handful. It was a brilliant performance from him at City. He works so hard and holds the ball up well.
“He’s big, awkward and I wouldn’t like to play against him.”