Calvert-Lewin's speech about Coleman sums up love for Everton captain

Irish Daily Mirror

4 hours ago

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has heaped praise on Seamus Coleman, saying he is everything good about Everton.
Calvert-Lewin has been at Everton since 2016, making over 250 appearances for the Toffees and playing under countless managers.
But the one mainstay of his time on Merseyside has been Donegal man Coleman, who has just been offered a contract to play a 17th season at the club.
Striker Calvert-Lewin's Everton future is in doubt, with new contract talks having stalled, but his admiration for Coleman knows no bounds.
Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Calvert-Lewin was asked who the biggest cultural architect at Everton is, and he was in no doubt of the answer.
"The biggest cultural architect at Everton is Seamus Coleman," Calvert-Lewin said. "What a man he is! He deserves all the credit he's got from people and all the plaudits and positivity associated with him because he really is that guy.
"Some players or people might put on a bit of extra to look a certain way, but he truly lives and breathes it.
"I was talking about feeling a relegation battle before, but he feels it tenfold compared to me. It's the way he's emotional in the sense that he loves Everton Football Club.
"I think that's quite rare these days because football is also a business, and sometimes football doesn't love you back. I wouldn't say gone are the days where you have those childhood stories of players staying at the same club, but it's a little different now.
"I think he still appreciates the faith that Everton put in him when he was a young lad. Nobody can argue what he's done.
"People often forget that, probably in Everton's history, the last three years—the points deductions, relegation battles—have been the toughest. The uncertainty, maybe higher up, and things like that, which do filter into a dressing room and affect your performance when the environment's unstable.
"You do have to stay focused and stay as a unit. Seamus has been the main driver of that through sheer passion and love for the club. As you can tell, I respect him a lot."
Calvert-Lewin added: "He just does everything right. He doesn't cut corners. Simple things, you know—he's on time, and he's very aware of how people perceive him in the environment. He knows that people will go off from how he acts.
"So, he never loses sight of that. If we're going through a sticky patch, he'll make sure he's the first on the training pitch, first in the gym, or first to training because he's setting the example. For me, he's been a great leader to learn from because that's all I've ever known. I know Seamus like I know Everton."
Calvert-Lewin continued on the Everton captain: "You wouldn't believe some of the stuff he has done in moments of need when he's stepped up and spoken in the dressing room. I can't think of an exact moment, but he's able to recognise when the team needs a kick up the arse. I've heard him give a lot of speeches over the years.
"He won't mind me saying this, but his go-to is always: 'There are people in those stands who are paying a lot of money to come and watch us. They're working all week, and this is their outlet to come and watch us win and, at the bare minimum, see us give our all.'
"It's something along those lines. Without saying too much, he speaks about the people, he speaks about the football club. He's almost able to disassociate himself as Seamus the footballer and place himself as Seamus, Everton Football Club. You feel it, you know? It's captivating.
"You go out ready to run through brick walls. Managers have come and gone in that period of time, but he's been the captain. He's had to deal with a lot in terms of internal politics, points deductions, this person, that person, and still, he's out there giving 110% on the day."