Lindstrøm On Capturing Confidence-Boosting 'Moment'

Ahead of Everton's clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday (3pm GMT), Jesper Lindstrøm sat down to review the first part of the season, what work is being done on an individual and collective level to add more goals, the importance of confidence, and why the Blues will be heading to the south coast with belief they can come away with three points...

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- Jesper, heading into 2025, how do you reflect on the first part of this season?

JL: It's difficult. I think we expected more, and I think at times we've got less than we deserved from some games. We haven't had luck in moments but then you can't only talk about luck because you have to make it happen yourselves. I think we can do more and get more from the second part of the season.

- A lot was spoken about Everton's schedule in December with the fixtures we had but you come away from it with a big win against Wolves, as well as draws against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, before losing to Nottingham Forest. Are there positives to take from that return, though?

JL: Of course. Defensive-wise, they were good for us and we've kept some good clean sheets but as an offensive player, personally, I'd like to score more goals and be involved in helping to score more goals. Defensively, we're in good shape but we're working hard on adding more goals to our game by working on patterns of play and things like that.

- What do you think it is that can make the difference in that respect?

JL: It's really frustrating but I think it's the last pass, the last cross, the last finish that we aren't getting right at the moment. The spirit in the group is really good and we're training hard to put it right. We want to score more goals, for sure. You see in games like against Man City, where we had chances to win it at the end but the last pass or finish was missing, but we are getting into those moments and now we have to start taking them more regularly. I think it's coming.

- Do you think it's a confidence thing?

JL: For sure, 100 per cent. It is about confidence. I can only talk about myself. I've had some tough times in recent years but I know when you score the first goal, the second one comes a little easier, then the third comes much easier and the fourth easier again. It's just about trying and trying and trying and when those moments come, being ready. I think we have the team and the players to be better than where we are in the table at the moment - and it's up to us to show that in the coming games.

- Bournemouth next up. What are you expecting from that one?

JL: I think we know what to expect. Their plan is working well for them this season and you see that by where they are in the table, but we played well against them in the home game this year before a really, really bad ending for us. I think we can go there play well again and get a result – but it's up to us to go and score the goals and get the result. We know the fans are desperate for us to win and, honestly, as players we are even more crazy about winning. We don't like losing or drawing, we want to win and that's what we'll be going to do this weekend.