Brazilian Bernard Focussed On Results

Everton attacker Bernard says the Blues are determined to translate their “dedication and focus” into a positive run of results.

Marco Silva’s team travel to Watford on Saturday aiming to record back-to-back away successes and hurdle their opponents in the Premier League table.

Everton won at Huddersfield Town 11 days ago. In the meantime, however, they have dropped points on their own ground, losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City.

Manager Silva nevertheless rated Wednesday’s performance against title-contenders City as a substantial improvement on Everton’s display in defeat by Wolves four days earlier.

Bernard agreed with his boss’s assessment and – again in common with Silva – urged Everton to ensure their better football yields a three-point haul at Watford’s Vicarage Road.

“We have to use the good elements of the match against Manchester City to help us at the weekend and it is really important to try to win,” Bernard told evertontv. 

“We know we are capable [of putting together a winning sequence], we have very good players and work hard every day. So we have to start winning matches.

“We have to identify the tactics to use [against Watford] and be concentrated on the game.

“I think it was a good response against City after the previous home game when things did not happen for us.

“But it is not enough just having a good performance, we need to return to winning ways.

“We need to study the good things we did, work out what is missing, and find a way to win.”

Bernard returned to Everton's team for the meeting with Pep Guardiola's City after sitting out last weekend's clash with Wolves.

He aimed two efforts at goal and came especially close to opening his Premier League account with a first-half header which deflected marginally wide.

The Brazilian, capped 14 times by his country, recorded the highest passing accuracy statistic of Everton’s starting XI, Bernard finding his range with 88.9 per cent of his passes.

One of six outfield players signed following the appointment of Silva ahead of this campaign, Bernard has featured in 22 of Everton’s 26 top-flight games.

He marked his first start against Leicester City back in October by creating a goal for compatriot and fellow summer arrival Richarlison inside seven minutes.

Bernard remained in the side and was a key figure as Everton embarked on a productive run which had them hovering around the top-six positions.

Silva’s team has not located the same consistency in the past couple of months. But Bernard is convinced Evertonians will see an upturn in form before long, with the South American and the Club's other pre-season recruits now fully integrated into the squad.

“We are developing an understanding, we have spent some together and got to know each other,” added Bernard.

“It is difficult to identify why we have not been doing as well as we want and we know we should have won more games.

“But I believe in time things will come together, we work hard and put it all in every day. And with dedication and focus things will come together.”