Everton's Digne Reveals Pride To Play Alongside Intelligent Bernard
15th March 2019
The left-back’s tally of 214 crosses is more than the comparative figure recorded by any other top-flight player this term
- French full-back Lucas Digne says he counts himself fortunate to be playing in tandem with “amazing” Everton attacker Bernard
- The left-sided pair struck up an instant understanding when Bernard made his first Everton start in the 2-1 victory at Leicester City back in October
- Digne has started 27 games in all competitions for Everton following his summer move from Barcelona
LIVERPOOL, United
Kingdom- French full-back Lucas Digne says he counts himself fortunate to
be playing in tandem with “amazing” Everton attacker Bernard.
The left-sided pair struck up an instant understanding
when Bernard made
his first Everton start in the 2-1 victory at Leicester City back in October.
They dovetailed beautifully in last week’s meeting with
Newcastle United, the mobile duo's smart movement and deft passing routinely
opening up their opponents, most tellingly for the move which ended with
Dominic Calvert-Lewin heading in from Digne’s cross.
And the former Paris Saint-Germain player – who has created
47 chances this term, the joint-highest number of any defender in Europe’s
top-five leagues, along with Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich – admits he is
spoiled by the richness of his options with the ball at his feet.
“Bernard is
an amazing player, he understands everything and is very intelligent,” Digne
told evertontv.
“We are talking all the time, in training and out of
training. We have a very good relationship and it is really important to speak
all the time.
“When you have a good feeling away from the game, you usually have a good
feeling on the pitch, too. Now it is like this for us and I am very happy to
play with Bernard.
READ
ALSO: Here Are Some Key Decisions For Zidane As He Takes Over At Real Madrid
“The coach sometimes chooses Richarlison on
the left, too, and he is also an amazing player.
“And Ademola Lookman can
play there, so I am lucky to play behind the attackers we have on that side.”
Digne has started 27 games in all competitions for Everton
following his summer move from Barcelona. He has created five goals – four of
them for Calvert-Lewin, including one on his full Premier League debut against
Huddersfield Town in the season’s opening weeks.
The left-back’s tally of 214 crosses is more than the
comparative figure recorded by any other top-flight player this term.
The 25-year-old insists, however, that the circumstances of
the game dictate his decision-making.
“It is not always my first thought [to cross], it depends on
the situation and if Bernard or Richarlison move
in front of me,” said Digne.
“It is down to how the game looks in that moment.
“But Dominic has good timing and when I saw him moving
[against Newcastle] I wanted to put in the cross.
“He did his job very well.”
Digne admitted he sourced little pleasure from his most
recent assist after Everton lost the game at Newcastle.
He is, then, eyeing up Sunday’s clash with Chelsea as an
opportunity to swiftly bounce back and, in common with a number of his
teammates, hoping for a Goodison Park atmosphere to rival the one generated for
the recent Merseyside derby.
On a similar note, the genial Frenchman embraced the
opportunity to mingle with supporters at Everton in the Community’s People’s
Place Gala Dinner this week.
READ
ALSO: Oktay: We Need The Green Army To Turn Kasarani Into A Fortress
“It is always important when you can help the people… it
[EitC] is really important for us as players, for the Club and the city, and
the development of the city,” added Digne, called up this week for his
country's forthcoming European Championship qualifying matches with Moldova and
Iceland.
“We can do something great together.
“The dinner was an opportunity to meet the fans in a place
other than Goodison and enjoy the night together.
“The atmosphere during the derby was exceptional and I hope
it will be against Chelsea, too. It is really important for us.
“We feel the people behind us and you want to give more,
more and more. If you are tired, you give more, you say, ‘I can’t be tired, the
people are looking at me’.
“We are playing with 12 players when it is like that inside
Goodison.
“It is so important they are behind us. And the most
important thing is to stay together like this and continue in a positive way.”