Seamus Coleman has said he felt guilty when Ronald Komean was sacked, claiming that he felt he could have helped Everton had he not been laid up following his horrible double leg break on international duty.
The Ireland international captain spent most of 2017 recovering from a double leg break injury he sustained in a World Cup qualifier against Wales in March, after a nasty collision with Aston Villa’s Neil Taylor.
The full-back was then forced to watch as Ireland’s World Cup hopes came crashing down, while Everton’s form also fell by the wayside.
While Coleman admits he was determined to prove doubters wrong and show he could come back the same player he was before the injury, he admits he was racked with guilt, not being able to help either Everton or Ireland out when they needed him most.
Talking to the Irish Examiner, Coleman explained how it was difficult to see his teammates suffering, and how he couldn’t stand seeing his club manager lose his job. Coleman said:
There was a massive sense of guilt. Throughout my whole injury, the Denmark second leg was the hardest night because I was so gutted and felt a fully-fit me could have made a difference.
It was heartbreaking to see James McClean afterwards; he was in bits. I know that’s not the way I should feel but I did. I felt guilty when Ronald Koeman lost his job, believing I could have helped had I been around. Nowadays, to players, managers are just come-and-go but I don’t like seeing people losing their jobs.
Ronald Koeman did a lot for my career and showed great commitment by flying over to Donegal after I got the injury.
Having now made his return, Coleman is ready to put any rustiness behind him and come flying out of the blocks with the new look Everton team now shaping up under new boss Marco Silva.
Talking about his physical condition and how he is ready to approach the new season, Coleman said:
I want to get back to where I was at and though I’m physically there, I still need to regain my sharpness. I had five or six chances for Everton during my games towards the end of the season that I should have did better with.
I’ve spoken to David Meyler about the new manager whom he played under at Hull City and, by all accounts, he’s very good.
We’ve to go back and show our worth to him which I find tricky because it shouldn’t take a new manager to come in for you to make people step up their game.
