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Post by Everton News. on Mar 31, 2017 13:22:50 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Mar 31, 2017 13:31:31 GMT
Koeman: We Know What This Means To YouRonald Koeman has told Evertonians ‘we know what this means to you’ ahead of the 228th Merseyside derby. The Dutchman heads to Anfield for the first time as Blues boss on Saturday, a 12.30pm kick-off. And while he admires the “hunger” from Everton fans to defeat the Reds, he insists his players must stay fully focused on the football. “Everybody knows the importance of the Merseyside derby,” Koeman told evertonfc.com. “We had a great atmosphere at Goodison Park for the home game - not the best result, but we’re looking forward. We need to prepare the team for this Saturday and that is difficult [with the international break], but it is the same situation for Liverpool. “Of course, you feel from the fans and how much they want a good result. It is a long time ago [since the last win] and every time, they are more hungry to win the game - that is understandable. That is the emotion of the fans and I respect that. “It is one of the biggest derbies I have been involved in in many aspects. We need to focus ourselves in terms of how we prepare for the game, how we need to play, how we can make it difficult for Liverpool and how we can create and score chances to win the game. “It’s a combination [of getting the players fired up and keeping everyone calm]. I don’t think players need any extra push from the manager of the fans to realise how important the Merseyside derby is. It is better to speak about controlling your emotions because red cards make it more difficult, so focus on the football and not on the emotional things that happen on the pitch or even with the fans.” The Toffees go into the clash high on confidence following convincing back-to-back wins and having suffered just one Premier League defeat since the turn of the year. And Koeman says he has belief in his squad to topple the neighbours this weekend. “We have momentum and we want to keep that going,” he added. “For 60 minutes, we played well against Liverpool last time, we made it very difficult for them. We lost a little bit of control in the last 30 minutes and we were unlucky for them to score so late - but we know we are close to beating them. “The next step for us is to show that on Saturday.”
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Post by Everton News. on Mar 31, 2017 13:35:47 GMT
Schneiderlin Ruled Out Of DerbyFunes Mori, McCarthy and Coleman also miss out after recent injuries.Ronald Koeman has confirmed Morgan Schneiderlin will miss the Merseyside derby with the calf injury he sustained against Hull City. The Blues boss reported the France midfielder is progressing well from the problem, but will miss Saturday’s trip to Anfield and is also likely to be absent for the game against Manchester United three days later. “Morgan is getting better now,” Koeman told evertontv. “He is still not available for the weekend and I don’t think he will be available for the game against Manchester United on Tuesday, but we have good hope that he will be available for the Leicester game.” The Dutchman also confirmed Ramiro Funes Mori’s season could be over, with the defender set to get a second opinion on knee damage suffered on international duty with Argentina. “Funes is not good,” he said. “They checked him on Wednesday and we will have a second opinion on Monday - but we expect him to have surgery on the meniscus in his knee. That means that it would be the end of the season for him.” James McCarthy has been ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Anfield with a hamstring injury, while Koeman reiterated everyone at the Club will give Seamus Coleman the “maximum support” he needs to overcome a double leg break. “Of course, if you get a long-term injury like Seamus had, it is a shock,” he added. “What happened shocked everybody. I spoke to him after his surgery last Saturday and he was down, but that is normal. “We will give him all the maximum support to recover from that bad injury.” Meanwhile, Yannick Bolasie and Muhamed Besic will not be available for the clash with Liverpool as they continue their rehabilitation from respective knee injuries.
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Post by Avinalaff on Mar 31, 2017 13:38:19 GMT
Koeman looks more than a little angry with James McCarthy.
Not sure I can blame him.
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Post by Avinalaff on Mar 31, 2017 13:39:37 GMT
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