Everton’s Ross Barkley admits he has been struggling for form this season
“The gaffer will give me confidence in training. All the back-room staff and the older lads in the team, the most experienced ones, they help because they have all been through similar experiences. Listening to what they say helps.”
Barkley’s creative style means that he often takes risks when trying to beat a player or find the killer pass, and he insisted that he would continue to play with imagination, despite some criticism from home fans when he loses possession.
“I am always going to want the ball. That is the way I have been brought up through the academy,” he said. “Even if I make a mistake, I will keep wanting the ball because I know eventually things will click and I will create chances and the goals will come. I feel like this [goal] can be a turning point for me and the team.”
Everton head to Kyiv for the second leg of their Europa League tie tomorrow in confident mood after two home wins. “We feel we are getting a bit of momentum and the confidence is coming back in the team as well,” Barkley said.
“You can see that in training. Everyone is getting on with each other and we are looking forward to the games coming up, gathering some points and climbing up the table.”