Leon Osman has labelled Everton’s now infamous 3-0 loss to Wigan as ‘probably the lowest I’ve ever felt in my career’. The England midfielder, 31, has been writing for the Daily Mail Footballers’ Football Column, and discussed topics such as his injury, history on loan and teammate Ross Barkley’s potential, but it was the loss to Wigan which seemed to occupy his mind the most.
Osman wrote:-
“The defeat by Wigan in the FA Cup quarter-final was probably the lowest I’ve ever felt in my career. Losing the final in 2009 was bad, as was the semi-final last year, but the nature of how we played against Wigan and knowing what an opportunity we had made this the worst.
It was compounded all the more when we saw Wigan’s draw in the semi-final and then Liverpool went above us in the league the following day.
There were a lot of raised voices in the dressing room at half-time, more out of trying to find the reasons for what had gone wrong but afterwards we didn’t have the energy to argue with each other. We were just drained, shell-shocked by what had happened.”
Everton fans look on as the team capitulate to Wigan in this year’s FA Cup Quarter Final
The sentiment may come as some small consolation to Everton fans, who are acutely aware that they could have reached the FA Cup final and guaranteed Europa League football next season in one game which the team simply didn’t turn up for. During a 3 minute period, in which Everton conceded a hat-trick of poorly defended goals, the atmosphere at the Old Lady turned toxic. Many fans are still reeling from the defeat, despite a following run of 11 points from a possible 15 from games which included Manchester City at home and Arsenal and Spurs away.
Osman’s comments show he felt every bit as devastated as Everton fans, but he did, however, go on to criticise the atmosphere which erupted in that game.
“Each and every one of us had an off-day and even Marouane Fellaini came in for some stick from our crowd. As a group of players we know that we have raised expectation levels at Everton and I can understand the fans frustration when things don’t go our way.
But, and I know it’s been said before, booing your own players and getting on their backs doesn’t help anyone.
Players love to get stick from opposing fans because it generally means we’re doing something right but hearing it from your own supporters during a game is one of the worst things that can happen to a footballer and it certainly wouldn’t make me play any better.
In fact, it would probably make things worse.”
Read the full interview and watch video at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2310950/Leon-Osman–The-Footballers-Football-Column–Everton-England-star-says-wrong-boo-players.html