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Allan: What We Need To Start Looking Up

Allan insists Everton remain confident of convincingly eclipsing last season’s 10th-placed Premier League finish – but a lot of learning and improvement stands in the way of Rafa Benitez’s players achieving their objective.

Everton occupy that same 10th spot prior to Sunday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park.

It has been a mixed start to the campaign, a bright beginning followed by three straight defeats. The upshot is a uniform record of four wins and the same number of defeats from 10 matches.

Midfielder Allan is largely performing a holding midfield role for manager Benitez, which has meant reining in attacking impulses.

The Brazilian has covered 105.6km this term, a distance topped by only seven Premier League players. He is the division’s most voracious presser of the ball – his 269 presses are 43 more than next best James McArthur of Crystal Palace – and is level with Brentford’s Christian Norgaard as the midfielder with most tackles attempted (32) and won (26).


Allan spoke exclusively to Everton’s matchday programme for the meeting with Spurs, covering an array of subjects including long-term Goodison ambitions, an English adventure that keeps getting better and the Australian player Josh Cavallo becoming the first openly gay male professional top-flight footballer.

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But Allan started with that fresh assignment under Benitez and his team’s form in this incipient campaign.

“I am learning new things with Rafa Benitez, without a doubt,” began Allan. “Every manager has a distinct way of working, Rafa has his and he's already added a lot to my career.

“You learn until the day you stop playing and the manager has helped me have a different view of some parts of the game.

“I always aim to adapt to the manager’s instructions and I want to do my best for Rafael Benitez and help the team.

“Whenever I get on the pitch, I will always give my maximum. There are some games where we do better than others but the willingness and desire, giving 100 per cent, will never change.

“It isn’t only me learning a lot from Rafa, it is the entire group, and our intention is for this season to be much better than the last one.

“There are some details we need to correct, which is normal when a new manager is implementing his ideas. We started really well… now we need to work hard and follow Rafa's directions to get over this spell we are having. I believe everything is in place to improve on last season.”

Everton won their opening three home Premier League matches and claimed four points from away games against Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

A draw at Manchester United, however, was sandwiched by defeats to Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers on the road.

Allan
You learn until the day you stop playing and the manager has helped me have a different view of some parts of the game.


And when Everton host Tottenham this weekend, the aim is to reverse recent fortunes at Goodison after West Ham United and Watford both left the stadium with maximum points.

“We had a really good start but we expected six points from our past two home games,” said Allan.

“Our mindset during games can, and will, improve. When we are ahead, like against Watford [Everton led 2-1 after 78 minutes but lost 5-2], we must recognise where the opposition will challenge us to try to come back into the game.

“We can’t allow ourselves to be caught by surprise. It is crucial to think positively and completely believe in our work and our plan.

“I believe we can fight as equals with any Premier League side. We have shown it is possible – but not consistently. The next step is to build on our experiences together, so our performances reach a consistently high level.

“We should never get carried away if we win a game, only focus on winning the next one.

Allan
I believe we can fight as equals with any Premier League side. We have shown it is possible – but not consistently. The next step is to build on our experiences together, so our performances reach a consistently high level.


“In moments such as the one we are living now, our heads can’t go down. We have to focus on winning the next game, then things can quickly change.

“Every player must be highly-prepared, mentally and physically, to help the team achieve our goals.”

Additional programme sales points will be positioned outside Goodison Park for Sunday's game against Spurs, with limited options to buy inside the stadium. 

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