Everton struggled for consistency last term and finished the season in a disappointing 11th position.
Everton’s Gareth Barry celebrates with Romelu Lukaku
Everton midfielder Gareth Barry has lifted the lid on the Blues’ poor form last season, admitting that the player’s standards slipped both on and off the pitch, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
The Toffees seem to have turned the corner under the stewardship of new boss Ronald Koeman, however, and currently sit second in the Premier League table.
Barry spoke exclusively to the Liverpool Echo, and highlighted how his side’s poor performances were influenced by a drop in their level of commitment off of the pitch:
Everton’s Gareth Barry
“The standards of the players were, for me, slightly slipping last season, on and off the pitch. If standards are slipping off the pitch it can impact on your form on the pitch and the whole team was losing that level that is expected to compete at the top end of the Premier League.”
He went on to praise Koeman for not allowing the same mistake to be repeated this term:
“The manager doesn’t want to come across as some sort of headmaster but he has been quite keen to let anybody know if they go underneath the standards expected. That is good for everyone.”
Everton’s Gareth Barry
Barry was more specific in how the Everton squad lost their way last season:
“It was things like time-keeping, dress codes, training, everything really.”
The former Aston Villa and Manchester City star seemed to be having a veiled swipe at Roberto Martinez’ management style, by accentuating the importance of how Koeman will not allow anyone to slip below their highest maximum effort levels.
Everton resume their Premier League duties today with a home game against newly promoted Middlesbrough, where a win could take them top of the table, depending on how Man City fare at home to Bournemouth.
Everton’s Gareth Barry
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