Kurt Zouma is convinced Everton “are building something very good” and says he has grown as a player since joining the Club.
The Frenchman, who signed for the Blues on a season-long loan from Chelsea, was one of six full internationals to join the Toffees last summer.
Each of these players - Zouma, Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina, Bernard and Richarlison – were aged 25 or under when they signed for the Club.
They added to a squad already brimming with young talent - the Blues have had six players involved with England Under-21s this season – and Zouma claims an exciting future lies ahead for Everton.
The centre-back also highlighted the influence of manager Marco Silva and believes the Blues’ impressive recent results are testament to his hard work on the training pitch.
Everton have collected 13 points from their past six matches, a run of form which has seen them move to within one point of seventh place in the Premier League table.
“The Club brought in a lot of players last summer and you can see now everyone understands and knows each other,” said Zouma.
“We had players coming from abroad, some from England. People need to understand each other.
“From training you get to know how each other plays, the movements they make. In time, it comes. Now you can see everyone has fitted in well.
“The team is growing now, and you can see with the results we have had. We have to keep going like this. I think the Club is building something very good.
“Marco Silva is a very good manager, too. He is very close to the players.
"He is focussed in the training sessions, we work really hard and he is giving everything. We learn a lot. He wants to give us his idea, the way he wants us to play and you can see that.”
Zouma has made 31 first-team appearances for Everton this season and his commanding performances in heart of the defence have seen him rewarded with a recall to the France international squad.
The 24-year-old defender’s form over the past six weeks has been particularly impressive, as he has helped the Blues record five clean sheets in six matches.
Zouma detailed how the environment at Everton has allowed him to flourish and says boss Silva has helped to significantly develop his game.
“I think I have improved in every aspect [since joining Everton],” he said.
“Physically, tactically and defensively I have improved a lot. That’s especially due to the manager who helps me a lot.
“I am very happy. When I joined, I knew I was joining a big team and a big club, with great fans.
“My aim was to play as much as I can and enjoy myself here - and I am still enjoying myself.”
Zouma set out the team’s determination to maintain their momentum when they take on already-relegated Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday (3pm).
A victory in south west London would represent the Blues’ fourth Premier League success on the spin.
“You can see the confidence is there, with the ball and without the ball, we are all fighting in the same way in the pitch,” he added.
“Fulham will play without pressure so maybe they will play with freedom. We need to be focussed and play like we have in the past few weeks.
“We have a very strong side with good players in the team.
“The confidence is going up game by game. There are five games left and we want to finish as well as we can.”
The Frenchman, who signed for the Blues on a season-long loan from Chelsea, was one of six full internationals to join the Toffees last summer.
Each of these players - Zouma, Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina, Bernard and Richarlison – were aged 25 or under when they signed for the Club.
They added to a squad already brimming with young talent - the Blues have had six players involved with England Under-21s this season – and Zouma claims an exciting future lies ahead for Everton.
The centre-back also highlighted the influence of manager Marco Silva and believes the Blues’ impressive recent results are testament to his hard work on the training pitch.
Everton have collected 13 points from their past six matches, a run of form which has seen them move to within one point of seventh place in the Premier League table.
“The Club brought in a lot of players last summer and you can see now everyone understands and knows each other,” said Zouma.
“We had players coming from abroad, some from England. People need to understand each other.
“From training you get to know how each other plays, the movements they make. In time, it comes. Now you can see everyone has fitted in well.
“The team is growing now, and you can see with the results we have had. We have to keep going like this. I think the Club is building something very good.
“Marco Silva is a very good manager, too. He is very close to the players.
"He is focussed in the training sessions, we work really hard and he is giving everything. We learn a lot. He wants to give us his idea, the way he wants us to play and you can see that.”
Zouma has made 31 first-team appearances for Everton this season and his commanding performances in heart of the defence have seen him rewarded with a recall to the France international squad.
The 24-year-old defender’s form over the past six weeks has been particularly impressive, as he has helped the Blues record five clean sheets in six matches.
Zouma detailed how the environment at Everton has allowed him to flourish and says boss Silva has helped to significantly develop his game.
“I think I have improved in every aspect [since joining Everton],” he said.
“Physically, tactically and defensively I have improved a lot. That’s especially due to the manager who helps me a lot.
“I am very happy. When I joined, I knew I was joining a big team and a big club, with great fans.
“My aim was to play as much as I can and enjoy myself here - and I am still enjoying myself.”
Zouma set out the team’s determination to maintain their momentum when they take on already-relegated Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday (3pm).
A victory in south west London would represent the Blues’ fourth Premier League success on the spin.
“You can see the confidence is there, with the ball and without the ball, we are all fighting in the same way in the pitch,” he added.
“Fulham will play without pressure so maybe they will play with freedom. We need to be focussed and play like we have in the past few weeks.
“We have a very strong side with good players in the team.
“The confidence is going up game by game. There are five games left and we want to finish as well as we can.”
