Exclusive: Phil Jagielka has taken his game to another level says Roberto MartinezSkipper deserves fastest in Premier League tag and is the perfect leader for Everton FC says boss
Phil Jagielka has responded to his difficult start to the campaign by taking his performances to “another level” for Everton FC, insists admiring boss Roberto Martinez.
The England defender was dropped by Roy Hodgson following the summer World Cup debacle in Brazil, and suffered from poor form earlier in the season for the Toffees.
But Jagielka weathered the storm and has impressed Martinez by flourishing once again - proving why he is the perfect leader for his team in the process.
Although eyebrows were raised earlier in the week when the 32-year-old was revealed as the Premier League’s fastest player by statisticians from EA Sports, Martinez (right) says he was not surprised.
“When a defender covers he needs to make up short distances really quickly,” he said. “They’re not the eye catching runs that maybe you spot as a fan because you’re always watching the man on the ball. It’s more attractive to see the player running with the ball and taking people on.
“But Phil Jagielka is not just quick he’s rapid in the way he covers the distances. It did not surprise me at all.
“I think that after the World Cup he’s gone up to the next level again. We’ve seen him adapting to playing on the left. We know he can play on the right, earlier in his career he played at right-back and he can play in central midfield.
“Obviously he has got the understanding of all those positions and that helps him. He has become a proper leader and a proper captain.
“Someone who looks after the interests of the squad on the pitch really well and he can do absolutely everything.”
Jagielka is predominantly right-footed but has been asked to play on the left of central defence in recent weeks, a challenge he has risen to with aplomb.
“We’re getting stats on him getting close to 100 passes per game,” added Martinez. “At the same time he takes real pride in getting clean sheets. He’s been instrumental in the clean sheets against Aston Villa and Lille.
“He can help any partner alongside him. He’s helped John Stones, Sylvain Distin, Antolin Alcaraz. He’s a phenomenal footballer for us and i feel him and Leighton are enjoying the best moments of their careers.
“It’s impressive to see him playing on the left. Obviously his speed helps him because when you’re playing those positions speed helps you to be effective in defensive covering. He’s got no problem on his left foot. Technically he’s very confident and I think he’s in that stage in his career he can play in any position.”
Martinez explained that he has asked Jagielka to operate out of his comfort zone in order to take advantage of his understanding with influential left-back Leighton Baines, as he moulds a new-look defence.
He said: “Antolin is right footed but he can play on both sides as well.
“I always like the balance of centre halves and full backs and I feel Leighton and Phil have a real understanding.
“Antolin is developing a very good understanding with Seamus Coleman too.
“They are a back four that need to be confident with their partnerships and I thought they did really well against Villa and see some continuity.”
Source: Echo
