Everton boss Sam Allardyce has played down a potential rift between Jordan Pickford and Idrissa Gueye.
Everton boss Sam Allardyce has told the Liverpool Echo that there is no problem between goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
The Toffees suffered yet another defeat last weekend, as they squandered a 1-0 lead at Burnley to lose 2-1, as second half goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood cancelled out Cenk Tosun’s opener.
It was another torrid afternoon for manager Allardyce, who is coming under increasing pressure after just two wins in 2018, and there have been suggestions of unrest in the camp.
After Barnes equalised for Burnley, midfielder Idrissa Gueye was seen sprinting back to his own goal to remonstrate with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, as the two argued in the aftermath of the goal.
That was noticed by pundit Jamie Carragher, who told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (05/03/2018) that he didn’t think it was a one-off, and the pair must have fallen out long before the game.
Two players being at odds would compound Everton’s misery right now, but manager Allardyce has moved to allay those fears ahead of this weekend’s game against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Allardyce has told the Liverpool Echo that he thinks it isn’t great to see on the pitch, but was adamant that there was no major issue between the pair and there is no problem in two players showing their frustration.
“It’s not nice when it’s on the field of play,” said Allardyce. “But everybody today, in our politically correct world, think that then there is a real problem and escalate that into a problem. That isn’t a problem, that is someone airing their frustration in the right way, as long as it doesn’t go beyond that as a short, sharp burst,” he added.
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