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Koeman talks pressing with Carra
- Updated: September 30, 2016
Everton manager Ronald Koeman opens up about life at Goodison Park with Sky Sports Jamie Carragher ahead of Friday Night Football.
Koeman, who arrived from Southampton in the summer, sees his side host Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports, with Everton sitting fifth in the Premier League.
The Dutchman takes Carragher through his view on the current Everton squad, the transfer market, his philosophy, and the all-important pressing game…
On his philosophy…
The owners gave me some information about the club, and what they mentioned was the passion of the fans, and that’s one of the reasons we like to press at home because they don’t like a team waiting.
Sometimes of course I need to play football from the back, but sometimes direct play can be more dangerous.
I know the people, and what they like is the fight, to be pressing, and that was one of the targets to change in this team.
On tactics…
If you play direct, it’s because you have a No 9 who can hold the ball, keep the ball, and midfield players can support. The work rate of attacking players needs to improve.
That’s difficult because maybe the last few years they didn’t do that type of pressing, and you need time for that. The best example, if you watch Liverpool now and Liverpool last season, there’s a difference in pressing, and you need players for that.
Sometimes we are struggling because we have some technical players, but to have that type of pressing you need to learn that, and it takes time.
On Romelu Lukaku…
He’s not far away, he’s one of the best strikers in the Premier League, but sometimes you forget the boy is only 23 years old. With more experience, more games, more international games, the boy will improve.
I had a good discussion with him last weekend. I said he takes a risk …
