Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has finally broken his silence on his reported controversial behaviour at the training ground last season.
‘I’ll show Everton fans that I’m not lazy and do care’
Morgan Schneiderlin, the Everton midfielder, says the criticism he received after missing a game has eaten away at him
✍ @_pauljoycehttps://t.co/ph23DkB4st #EFC pic.twitter.com/yU9YzDtQMQ
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) September 9, 2018
With a number of fans believing that he had decided to walk away from training, along with Belgian winger Kevin Mirallas, after it was reported that they were told to train away from the full group following the defeat to Olympique Lyonnais, Schneiderlin has now claimed that it was a complete none story in reality and there had been no bust-up.
Speaking to the Times to address the criticism he received, he also promised to prove to the Goodison faithful that he did care and that he wasn’t lazy.
“We did a warm-up of five minutes and David said his squad. I didn’t hear my name. There were four or five of us and he said, ‘You are going to train on the other side of the training ground.’ Duncan said, ‘I am going to put you as the man in the middle. You are tired. Don’t worry. I know it is frustrating.’ Duncan said to me, ‘Morgan, I understand you are tired, you played two days ago. There is no problem, if you want to rest and go inside, you can rest and go inside.’ I said, ‘Thank you’ and I went inside. When the story came out, I spoke with David. He said, ‘Morgan, no problem.’”
Fans will naturally have their own beliefs on this subject now and given the length of time that has passed for him to offer up his version of events, that will naturally leave some sceptical – but for many no doubt, it will draw a line under the incident and their eyes will be on future performances and improvements as the test of whether or not what he says above can be relied upon.
He’s got a laid back lethargic style, so because he doesn’t beat the chest, some find it hard to like. He’s the most disciplined centre mid we have so for me it’s important he plays right now, and let’s hope he rediscovers the form that made everyone think we didn’t need Barry.
— Ste Kelly (@stekellyefc) September 10, 2018
He looks geared up and that's good, just which he wouldn't pass backwards so much when he can go forward.
— dt (@RyderSezLesbos) September 10, 2018
Let your football do the talking. If your form hits that of when you first came, then there won’t be any complaints.
— Blooms (@Bloomefc1878) September 10, 2018
Missed 1 game? He didn't turn up all last season. ???? better this season tough.
— MR LEE (@IAM_MR_LEE) September 10, 2018
show some balls then when it comes to 50/50s and winning the ball back and youll be backed 100%
— Paul Jeffers (@PaulJeffers4) September 10, 2018
We can only go off what we see and read. Club shudda nipped it in the bud imo
— David 1878 (@davidjbricey) September 10, 2018
If there was no issue at all, it could explain why manager Marco Silva was so quick to give him what appeared to be a clean slate when others haven’t seemed to have benefited from that. If he performs though, it’ll stay in the background.