Barkley: It has been a tough season for me
Everton youngster Ross Barkley has admitted that he has found this season tough but that he will keep demanding the ball and learn to adapt his game to confuse the opposition.
The England midfielder started off the season by damaging his medial ligaments and has never shown the promise he showed last season, but is confident in his ability to come back and improve.
‘It has been a tough season for me,’ said Barkley. ‘I’m still learning and I am still a young lad. Every game is different and because last year was my first full season in the Premier League and then maybe no one really knew about me.
‘Maybe this season they know part of my game and it is up to me to learn and adapt. If people think they know what I am going to do, I have to come up with something different and have other options.
‘Our season hasn’t been the best and everyone else is still learning, but hopefully this season will be a good experience for me. I know I haven’t been at my best but the gaffer will give us confidence in training saying he knows what we are capable of.
‘All the backroom staff and the more vocal lads in the team like Gareth Barry, Sylvain Distin, Jags, Bainesy, Tim Howard – all the older lads in the team, the most experienced ones, they help us because they have all been through similar experiences. Listening to what they say helps.’
‘I am always going to try and want the ball,’ said Barkley. ‘That is the way I have been brought up through the academy. Even if I make a mistake, I will keep wanting the ball because I know eventually things will click together and I will create chances and the goals will come.
‘I feel like this can be a turning point for me and the team. All the lads were buzzing, we got three points and you could see the crowd were happy as well. Everyone is getting on with each other and we are looking forward to the games coming up, gathering some points and climbing up the table.’
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