TOTTENHAM v EVERTON The man who won’t be beaten
QUIET STAR ROBLES IN FOR KEEPS
JOEL ROBLES has illustrated the real meaning of player power.
Everton’s Spanish keeper got a demoralising dose of deja vu when Ronald Koeman told him that he was bringing 34- year- old Dutchman Maarten Stekelenburg to Goodison as his No.1 last summer.
But instead of kicking up a fuss, Robles buckled down to the task of proving the new boss wrong.
And when the Toffees arrive at Tottenham today he will be looking to keep his third successive clean sheet playing behind Koeman’s defence.
“If I’m honest, for the first few weeks when Koeman told me I was only No.2 I was frustrated,” said Robles, 26, forced to quit hometown club Atletico Madrid for Wigan in 2013 because a certain David De Gea was keeping him out of the team.
“I felt I had fought too many times with the team and I had played my part and then Koeman told me I would be behind Maarten.
“I went home to think and to try and understand the coach. I realised I had to respect his decision.
Mentality
“I knew I would have to work hard, change my mentality, and just train harder t han I had previously.
“I needed to be strong. That’s important for a goalkeeper. You need to handle difficult situations. I am young but I have also had many difficult situations in my career.
“First there was De Gea at Atletico and then I had a situation two years ago at Everton when I played 10 games and when Tim Howard came back from injury I went back to the bench.
“I learned then that when you get your chance you have to make the most of the moment and enjoy it.
“That’s what I have tried to do.” Robles’ attitude would have delighted Koeman (below).
The Dutchman is famous for being stubborn in his approach, but when he arrived at Goodison from Southampton he felt he had inherited a squad from Roberto Martinez that had become a soft touch.
Robles said: “Different coaches means a different mentality, different aspects of training and different tactical work.
“Koeman made everything clear when he first spoke to us.
“We still have the same objectives, but the training is totally different and the games are totally different.
“With Koeman I think we are a little more aggressive. We are pressing more and it is clear how we need to play. The results are good, we have not lost for nine games, but now we need to keep
at this level.”