Dominic Calvert-Lewin reveals 'rock bottom' moment at Everton as out-of-contract striker opens up on Champions League and England aims
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has admitted he was left 'crying on his bedroom floor' in the lowest moment of his career as he attempted to help Everton avoid relegation.
The 28-year-old, who has been with Everton since 2016, scored the goal that confirmed their top flight status during the 2021-22 season netting the winner in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.
Calvert-Lewin's goal came amid an injury-plagued season, which he claimed added to the pressure having thought it was 'his responsibility to save everybody' at the club.
Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Calvert-Lewin said he had been at 'rock bottom' weeks before the match.
'I did an Instagram post [at the end of the season] which was an outburst of emotion,' Calvert-Lewin said. 'I can look back in hindsight and reflect on what it was, I scored the goal against Palace that kept Everton in the league and that feeling I will never be able to describe.
'It was the weight of my own pressure, the football club. I am quite and emotional person and I put that weight on my shoulders. I thought it was my responsibility to save everybody, save jobs and that's a lot to put on your shoulders. When I scored that goal it was relief.
'On my birthday, four or five weeks before I scored that goal, that was a low point for me. I ended up crying on my bedroom floor, I think it was not knowing how to express what I was feeling in that moment. Feeling that things are getting away from you.
'You have all the pressure of the football club on your shoulders and at the time I couldn't play, as I had another injury. I was thinking it was a rock bottom moment for me. I felt better after I cried and let out that emotion, and was like "I'm going to save Everton Football Club".'
Calvert-Lewin admitted he regretted how he worded his social media post at the end of the season by saying 'talking saved my life', rather than 'changed my life'.
He admitted it had made his issues appear worse that it was, but reflected he had wanted to encourage younger people to feel able to speak out when encountering problems.
The 28-year-old also admitted some of his commercial work at the time had wrongly led to fans thinking he was not focused on football, suggesting supporters were less able to relate to him.
Calvert-Lewin's father previously spoke out against abuse of his son in August 2023, while last month the forward's wife Sandra revealed she had been the subject of 'threatening, racist and misogynistic abuse'.
The abuse followed Sandra posting on Instagram: '30 goals at Goodison. Top 3 ever. They might not shout it — but we're proud every single day.'
Calvert-Lewin's Everton contract is set to expire at the end of the month, with the forward revealing his ambitions to play in a 'winning environment' to help his Champions League and England ambitions.
Calvert-Lewin has earned 11 England caps to date but has not played for the national team since 2021
'I have to be careful with what I say because I am still contracted to Everton, I have a long history with Everton and a big respect for the club,' he said.
'The main thing for me is I want to win, I want to be in a winning environment. After the last three or four seasons it has been about survival.
'When I started my career I wanted to play in the Premier League, play for England a go to major tournaments with England and play in the Champions League. I have played in a major tournament for England, I have played in the Premier League, but I haven't played in the Champions League. There are still things I would like to achieve before my time is done.
'To have the opportunity to decide potentially where that place will be. If it gives me the best opportunity and environment to win and score goals, then that would be the return of me to the England team and playing in the Champions League.
'That has been my driver to play at the highest level possible. My representation of that is the Champions League, World Cups, Euros and getting into that bracket of elite players.'
Calvert-Lewis has earned 11 England caps to date, scoring four goals for the national team.
Despite being a member of the squad to reach the European Championship final in 2021, Calvert-Lewin has not featured for the national team since.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Can hat-trick ignite Adams' Scotland career?
"It's nice to score for Scotland, it's not happened much since I've been here."Fresh from scoring Scotland's first hat-trick in just under six years, and only the sixth since 1969, Che Adams was remarkably foot, right foot, header, the perfect hat-trick will hopefully serve as a confidence boost for the 28-year-old who has struggled, like many, to fire for Scotland. The side's trip to face Liechtenstein had become much more important than they'd have liked, after Friday night's ignominious Hampden defeat against a side ranked 161 places below them was viewed as a given, and any lingering nerves were calmed when Adams lashed in the opener just four minutes into the game - a smart, reactive finish following a sliced Lennon Miller shot.A driven reverse shot wrong-footed Liechtenstein's Benjamin Buchel for his second 20 minutes later, before flashing in a header with the final touch of the ball to wrap up his hat-trick."I'm happy to get on the scoresheet and help the team," Adams added."We knew it'd be difficult, the conditions weren't great, but we were very professional and our mentality was spot on."It was important to sign off this year with the win. We're happy we put things right from the Iceland game." He bagged goals seven, eight and nine for the national side on his 39th cap to get back amongst the goals in dark blue for the first time in just over a year, but it's now three years since his last competitive hat-trick, though, could hopefully spark a goalscoring revival for the Torino forward, who also assisted George Hirst for his first international has been routinely called upon by Clarke to pitch in up top, and Monday was perhaps an indication as to why."It's great for Adams to get his hat-trick," former Scotland defender Willie Miller said on BBC Radio Scotland. "It will give him huge confidence."Adams started alongside Hirst in the Rheinpark Stadion, a formation that Lyndon Dykes, who has started up top with Adams on multiple occassions, credits with getting the best out of said: "At the end of the day, everyone does get judged on goals in that position, so obviously scoring a hat-trick tonight will make him feel much better playing back in a Scotland shirt."Going forward, he'll take that confidence into the next games, I think the formations we played tonight definitely helped the game with the two upfront." Adams' journey from Saints to hat-trick Adams made his debut in March 2021, coming off the bench during a 2-2 draw against Austria in their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign first goal came two games later against the Faroe Islands, but, like many Scotland forwards, he has struggled for consistency in front of the time, he was playing Premier League football with four of his nine goals have come in competitive games, but he does contribute when not scoring, averaging a goal or assist every 3.5 games.A sole strike in a 4-1 win over Armenia in the Nations League in June 2022 was his last competitive contribution to a side void of attacking has also scored in seven different games for Scotland, who have never lost a game when he gets on the scoresheet. Adams, however, has been routinely called upon by Clarke to pitch in up top, and tonight was an indication as to why."It will be great for his confidence," former Scotland captain Scott Brown told BBC Scotland."I know every striker is judged on goals, but at the same time, it's his performance and work rate as well."What he does for the team, too, his hold-up play and link-up play have been really, really good for Scotland."That's why the manager chose to start him today, to get three goals is pretty much the icing on the cake with the last literal touch of the ball as well."
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
Leverkusen hatch Grealish plan - Tuesday's gossip
Jack Grealish might replace Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting U-turn angers Viktor Gyokeres, Manchester City agree Rayan Cherki City's England winger Jack Grealish, 29, is being lined up as a potential replacement for 22-year-old Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen. (Sun), externalSweden striker Viktor Gyokeres is furious that his club Sporting have gone back on a gentleman's agreement that the 27-year-old could leave this summer for £67m. (Record - in Portuguese), externalManchester City have agreed a £34m deal with Lyon for 21-year-old France midfielder Rayan Cherki. (Times - subscription required), externalArsenal are keen to sign Chelsea's Spain goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, 30, for just £5m. (Sky Sports), externalBurnley have valued their French centre-back Maxime Esteve, 23, at £50m amid interest from Bayern Munich, who are managed by the ex-Clarets boss Vincent Kompany. (Football Insider), externalParis St-Germain's 22-year-old France winger Bradley Barcola is Bayern's top target for a new singing on the wing this summer, with Atletico Madrid's Spain winger Nico Williams, also 22, their top alternative. (Sky Sport Germany - in German), externalPSG want Bournemouth's Ilya Zabarni but the Cherries are demanding £59m for the 22-year-old Ukraine centre-back. (L'Equipe - in French), externalTottenham have stepped up their interest in Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, while Manchester United also remain admirers of the Ghana forward, 25. (Sky Sports), externalNewcastle United are keen on signing Ghana winger Mohammed Kudus, 24, from West Ham after missing out on Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo. (Football Insider), externalWest Ham are considering a swap deal with Chelsea involving Kudu, while the Hammers are prepared to let Morocco centre-back Nayef Aguerd leave this summer for £25m. (Teamtalk), externalManchester City are ready to make a move for Chelsea's English goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, 33, following the departure of Scott Carson. (Telegraph - subscription required), externalTottenham are one of the latest clubs to show an interest in Red Bull Salzburg's Mali winger Dorgeles Nene, 22. (Teamtalk), external
Telegraph
24 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Nottingham Forest write to Uefa over Crystal Palace Europa League concerns
Nottingham Forest have written to Uefa to express their concerns about Crystal Palace qualifying for the Europa League with a decision expected by the end of this month as to whether they should be expelled. There have been suggestions that Brighton & Hove Albion, who would enter the Conference League in place of Forest if they are therefore promoted, have also complained to European football's governing body. But Telegraph Sport understands this is not the case. Uefa are set to inform Palace whether they are in breach of their multi-club ownership rules by June 30 – although the matter may then be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which would delay a final verdict. The FA Cup winners met Uefa officials last Tuesday in a two-hour meeting in an attempt to avoid being barred from European competition because John Textor, the American businessman who has a 43 per cent stake in the club, also owns French club Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League. Palace insist there are no sharing of information or staff or facilities with the French side. The club argue that despite Textor's shareholding he has no say in the day-to-day running and has just 25 per cent of voting rights. Indeed Textor has previously spoken about his annoyance at the lack of say he has at Palace and has been trying to sell his shares. Textor reiterated this after last week's meeting in Nyon. However, Forest have now written a letter to Uefa expressing their position and asking for clarification over whether Palace will be involved. However, in a further complication, Palace's Europa League place could also depend on whether Uefa decides to allow Lyon to take part in the competition next season. Uefa's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) disqualified Lyon from European competitions in December but allowed them to continue after the club met certain demands. However, Lyon are being 'carefully monitored' by the CFCB and if they are deemed to be in breach of a settlement agreement they could be disqualified from next season's Europa League in any case which would automatically earn Palace a reprieve. On the other hand Lyon's involvement, if Palace are thrown out, will heighten the likelihood of the latter turning to CAS. At the same time Forest could also turn to the Swiss-based adjudicators if they are not satisfied with Uefa's decision. It, therefore, appears to be a legal minefield. Palace may well have fallen foul of Uefa's rules because clubs have to establish separate ownership structures before March 1 if they hoped to play in the same competition in the following season. Matters are further complicated because one option for Uefa to consider is to demote Palace to the Conference League as a form of punishment. That is believed to be unlikely, however, as it may lead to further appeals. Palace have strongly refuted any wrongdoing and have attempted to comply with Uefa's rules as quickly as possible having won the first trophy in their history. Evangelos Marinakis, the Forest owner, who also owns Greek club Olympiacos, diluted his stake by placing his shares in a blind trust to ensure there was no conflict when it appeared they would qualify for the Champions League.
