- Jordan Pickford eyes England glory ahead of the summer World Cup.
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- Pickford believes Everton is a big club
Jordan Pickford has been England’s number one for the best part of a decade. He has 82 caps, has played in four major tournaments and no England goalkeeper has made more appearances in those tournaments than him. Yet, despite interest from bigger clubs, he has remained at Everton. In a candid interview with Wayne Rooney on The Wayne Rooney Show, Pickford explained why.
‘Why haven’t you moved on from Everton?’
Rooney asked the question that many have wondered. “For you to be so loyal, to what you have been to the club, it’s quite rare these days. With your ability, you can say: ‘Well, do you want to go and play Champions League?’ But you’ve stuck with Everton. Why is it?”
Jordan Pickford, who has been voted fans’ Player of the Year in three of the past four years, responded from the heart. “We’ve just got that bond really… you know what it’s like here, the people. The gaffer [David Moyes] calls it the ‘People’s Club’. The staff are brilliant and it’s where we live and go to the games. We just love it, my family love it.
“We know Everton should be in the European spots, but we know how hard it’s been over the last few years and a rollercoaster we’ve been on, but they’ve been nothing but good to me. They took a chance on me as a 22-year-old kid and I’ve repaid them, and I just love being here.”
Jordan Pickford: ‘Everton is such a big club’
Jordan Pickford acknowledged that questions about his presence at Everton only arise because the club has not consistently challenged for Europe. “When you came back, when I first signed, we were in the Europa League. So if we sustained that, those questions wouldn’t happen: ‘Why is England’s number one at Everton?’ But people don’t realize how such a big club Everton is.
“Everton’s been too far away from silverware and we’ve not won anything for so long – that’s what we need back.”
Wayne Rooney recalled first meeting Jordan Pickford in the England squad. “I remember being sat there and you got on the bus for the first time, and you came and sat next to me. I remember thinking, ‘what’s he like?’ And I couldn’t wait to get on the training pitch and try and dink you or something.”
Pickford admitted he was nervous. “I was more nervous when you said to me: ‘Are you ready for the [induction] song later?’ I watched you growing up and when I was watching you in the Euros… everyone looked up to you. So even then I was texting saying: ‘I’m opposite Wazza.’ I was shaking.”
‘We would be legends for life’, Pickford eyes England glory
Pickford recently broke the record for most consecutive clean sheets by an England goalkeeper. Rooney believes he is on his way to becoming the country’s best ever in his position. Pickford, however, is focused on winning something.
“We need something as a nation to win,” he said. “Any England ex-player… I don’t think they’ll ever be jealous. Everybody needs it, it’s only going to push the England badge forward. We would be legends for life. When you’ve been so close it does hurt, but it’s got to drive you.”
Talking about the pressure of being England’s number one, Pickford was unfazed. “There was a price tag on me when I was being bought – the most expensive British keeper – so there was that pressure. I’ve always enjoyed the pressure.”
As Everton prepare for their final home game of the season against Sunderland, Pickford’s focus remains on finishing strongly before turning his attention to the World Cup.
“My focus is finishing this season strong, two solid performances, have a little break, then get into it. It’s going to be a different experience, just thinking about all the travelling and the heat.”
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