Gana: Get Past Us If You Can

Gana: Get Past Us If You Can

Idrissa Gueye has issued a warning to Everton’s Premier League rivals after the signing of Morgan Schneiderlin.

The Senegal international was talking to evertonfc.com from an airport runway in Congo as he prepared to jet to Gabon for the Africa Cup of Nations, moments after Everton’s four-and-a-half year deal for Schneiderlin was confirmed.

Gueye, a summer arrival from Aston Villa, is delighted to welcome the former Southampton and Manchester United midfielder to Goodison Park and hopes they can build a formidable partnership on his return from the tournament.

“It’s good for the team and we are happy to have Morgan with us,” said Gueye. “I hope it will be good for us when I come back and it will be difficult for other teams to pass us in the midfield.”

Stats revealed last week showed that Gueye was the best ball winner across Europe's top five leagues in 2016, contributing 176 tackles and 124 interceptions, at a rate of 8.25 tackles and interceptions per game.



The incoming Schneiderlin, meanwhile, has made a combined total of 772 tackles and interceptions since August 2012 - more than any other Premier League player.

Earlier this season, Everton manager Ronald Koeman spoke of his desire to add another midfielder with similar qualities to Gueye and appears to have found an ideal match in the man he previously coached in his first of two seasons at St Mary’s.

“The reason why we signed Gana was because of his energy, his aggression in the midfield and winning second balls," Koeman said. "We need more of those players because it is not always about qualities, it is about mentality and everything without the ball.

“He is an important player in how we like to press, on second balls and in the energy he shows that gives a reaction to the other players. To know a player properly you have to work with them every day and I’m very happy with how he is acting and playing, not only without the ball but with the ball, too.

“It is not a surprise to us how well he is doing because he was always on our list for that position but maybe it is a surprise to the other clubs who saw Aston Villa get relegated last season and did not have him on their radar.”

Watch Idrissa’s interview on Friday’s The Everton Show, Made In Liverpool (Sky channel 117, Freeview 7 and Virgin 159) from 7pm or on demand via our official YouTube channel from 8pm.

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