safc.com catch up with Fabio Borini ahead of Sunday’s game against Manchester City at the Stadium of Light.
The Italy international reflects on a frustrating afternoon at Goodison Park, talks tactics ahead of this weekend’s match-up with Pep Guardiola's side, and much more.
Fabio, a frustrating afternoon at Goodison Park and plenty of work to do ahead of Sunday’s game?
FB: “Yes, it was very frustrating. At Everton we knew it was going to be tough and we know it’s going to be equally tough this weekend against Manchester City. This weekend we have to stay in the game and to do that we need to defend well. It might be ugly and if we score it might be scrappy, but it doesn’t matter how we do it. We showed those qualities against Liverpool and Tottenham earlier in the season, so we know hard work can give us results.”
There are 12 games left and I’m sure they're games you want to have a big impact in – scoring and creating goals to help the team?
FB: “They are pressure games and not everyone can play in those types of games, but I know when the pressure is on I perform at my best. I keep calm and I have experience which can help my performances, and the manager and my team-mates know that I can give the team goals and results.”
You have a history with Manchester City including that memorable strike at Wembley, so is this a team you always look forward to playing against?
FB: “Yes, but not just because of the final. As a player you always want to play against the best players and we played well against City on the opening day of the season. We almost got a result because we were compact, we defended well and we took our chances, and we have to be the same this weekend. It will also be harder for them at the Stadium of Light because they hate coming here.”
City’s attacking flair and threat is undeniable, but do you feel they’re a team who can be tested defensively?
FB: “Perhaps. They seem a little shaky at the back because of the way Guardiola wants them to play, but don’t take that as a criticism because that’s the way he’s won titles in the past. He has his philosophy and that won’t change this weekend, so we have to take advantage of that in any way we can.”
Given the way they like to build from the back and pass out the ball out, does that further enhance the need to start fast and put pressure on them?
FB: “We need to frustrate them and if that means we have to be defensive then so be it because we have to stop their influence on the game. We can set the tone by something as simple as a tackle and by playing hard from the start we can let them know it’s not going to be a easy. We have to be aggressive.”
What has to be the key foundation for success between now and the end of the season?
FB: “We have to make sure we keep clean sheets at home because we know from the past that they keep you up.”
We’ve been in this position before but with hard work, togetherness and quality we’ve come out on top – does that give the players confidence heading into the final run-in?
FB: “Yes because what we’ve done in the past few years has been down what we’ve done on the pitch. It comes down to the togetherness we had and how we fought on the pitch – we worked for one another in every game. We know we don’t have to play brilliant football to stay up, but confidence is key in modern football and you saw what Leicester did last season when they had it so we have to stay strong.”
A frustrating couple of weeks for the team and the supporters, but how important is it that everyone at the Stadium of Light on Sunday comes together to create a positive atmosphere?
FB: “The frustration has to be put to one side and that starts with the players and how we start the game. We need to work hard and make the fans understand that we care about staying in the Premier League because doing that is the only thing we want.”
