Anthony Gordon has outlined how Rafa Benitez has simplified football for him and vowed to do all he can to nail down a place in the Everton starting line-up. Gordon spent the second half of last year’s campaign on loan at Preston North End in the Championship, but the club opted against him doing the same this summer. And he started for the first time this season for the Blues in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat to Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. And although the Blues youngster has found regular game time hard to come by this season, that hasn’t stopped from continually improving under the guidance of Benitez.
Anthony Gordon said: “Today’s game has a lot of tactics and can be a bit over thought but this manager simplifies football for me and, in my opinion, is making me a better player. Whether I’ve had the best or worst training session, he always talks to me at the end. If I have had the best session ever, he’ll still be telling me, ‘You could have done this better, next time do this’. He is keeping me on my toes and I am always improving, which is what I love to do. He knows my personality and character. I think my training shows I am always ready to play and it is good he has recognised that. The loan was up and down, a mixed bag, but when I got back, I was definitely a better player. I feel I matured as a player and person, so it was a successful period. I had a really good pre-season and am doing the other stuff, the dirty parts, working hard and running back. I am better going forward and more mature in the final third. I know when to dribble at the defender, when to lay it off or cut inside and cross, or link with Lucas [Digne]. I have that little bit of experience in and around the box. I have never seen a [wide] player of Andros’ type, he is so direct and you see that in his goals and assists. He is experienced and a great person and I’ve learned a lot from him already. Dimi is similar to me, he has the same characteristics and I have seen him improve his end product. All four wingers have been at it in training since pre-season. It is healthy competition and I am ready.”
Although the Blues were beaten 8-7 on penalties in the capital, Gordon was arguably his side’s best player on the night.
Anthony Gordon added: “I did all right [overall] but there were a few bits I could improve on, a few touches around the box. The chance in the first half, I needed to score. I thought I did well – but results matter and goals and assists matter, so they are what I am looking for. I was confident with the penalty, I missed one in Florida and was keen to make up for that. I did, so I proved something to myself. We had enough to win and need to be winning games like this. But it is gone and our heads are on Norwich [Premier League game on Saturday].”
