Seamus Coleman has opened up on how Everton’s fight to avoid relegation last season 'sapped everything' from him and issued a passionate defence of Roy Keane.
The Blues finished 16th last season, having secured their Premier League survival on the penultimate day with a dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park. Lampard’s side came from 2-0 down at the break to claim all three points.
Ahead of their last three home matches, thousands of Everton supporters arrived early and took to the streets to produce incredible scenes as Lampard and his squad arrived for the game. Banners and flags were on full display, there was constant loud singing and numerous smoke bombs filled the air to create a raucous atmosphere.
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Similar scenes had also been witnessed outside Finch Farm ahead of the Blues' two away trips to Leicester and Watford as supporters looked to inspire their side over the line. But there is no doubting that the campaign, in which the Blues were largely abject, took its toll on Everton supporters.
And now opening up on the ordeal himself, Coleman has explained how even though he likes to keep football away from his private life, the situation his side found themselves in made it impossible.
“If you had my wife sitting here and you asked her about it, she would understand,” he told the club’s matchday programme when reflecting on last season.
“It sapped everything from us in our private life. The manager will be the same, the players here will be the same. It was tough.
“There’s no getting away from it. It affects your mood and your routine. You try to keep it away from your kids, of course you do, but there’s no getting away from it – the mood’s not the same at home.
“You can try to leave work at work but, because of the situation we were in, it was too hard. You need to have thick skin to play at this level and you need to keep grinding it out. We did that and we got what we needed in the end.
“Thankfully, I have good family around me. My wife is great and, honestly, the kids definitely take your mind off it at times, but it was still so tough.”
Outspoken TV pundit Keane has made his feelings pretty clear about Coleman in the past, and although the former Manchester United captain often gets criticised for his uncompromising and blunt punditry, the Everton defender feels the former midfielder just has higher expectations and standards than others in the game.
“With Roy, it probably depends on the personality you are,” Coleman said of his fellow Irishman. “If he’s not happy with something, he’ll say it.
“For me, I came through with David Moyes here and, if you did something wrong, you were told. You took it on the chin and moved on. Roy’s someone I really enjoyed working with.
“He’s someone you’ve got to take something from because of the career he’s had. I think, off the pitch, there’s a much nicer side to him. He’s very humble and he’s a good man.
“Growing up, he was a Premier League icon, a great captain, so to have someone like him speak highly of you is very flattering.
“Again, there’s no secret to it. I just work hard, train hard, play hard. I just want what’s best for my teammates and probably don’t look for excuses too much. Maybe that’s what he liked.”
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