Season › 2016-17 › News
Funes Mori determined to fight for his place at Everton
Ramiro Funes Mori says that it feels good to be back in the Everton side and that he wants to prove himself so he can keep learning under Ronald Koeman.
The Argentine defender found himself warming the bench following the arrival of Ashley Williams from Swansea when Koeman decided that the Welsh captain's experience and that of Phil Jagielka would make them a better central-defensive partnership.
It prompted Funes Mori to provide the first indications in October that he might have to seek a move away from Everton in order to play regular first-team football and retain his starting role at the back for his country.
Restored to the team, however, in place of Jagielka against Manchester United last weekend and likely to again be in the starting XI at Watford again tomorrow, the 25-year-old now wants to get his head down and cement his spot.
“My first year at Everton was very good, personally, because I never expected to play a lot,” Mori said in the Liverpool Echo. “I want to stay at the club and keep fighting for a spot and grow as a player.
“I started the season playing but the manager had his reasons and I didn't play for a while. I'm starting now and I have to keep training and work hard.
“I knew I was going to get my chance again so I have to prove myself and play well to keep playing.
“I don't like to be on the bench, I like to play every game, but the manager had his reasons so I coped with that, I stayed focused, kept training and knew I was going to get my chance again.”
Reader Comments (20)
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2 Posted 09/12/2016 at 19:06:25
3 Posted 09/12/2016 at 19:08:11
4 Posted 09/12/2016 at 21:17:33
I want Mori to get match sharpness and keep Jags on the bench so that our defence can be trusted again
Also Joel Robles MUST start against Watford, Stek has made slipped in more then a handful of soft goals. it is now time for Stek to be benched!!!
5 Posted 09/12/2016 at 21:50:36
That said, I'd still choose him over Jags this weekend. And definitely over a lad, no matter how promising, whom we've never seen play center back for the senior side.
6 Posted 09/12/2016 at 21:58:26
I think Koeman is using him well; I also think the manager knows what a gem he's got. But I don't think the boy is yet ready for a regular starting slot.
Funes Mori is a talent in my opinion, he gets goals too and has the right attitude, as these quotes demonstrate. He needs a good run in the side again to build confidence. Yes, he has errors in him but I want him to stay with us and develop. Aged 25, playing with/training against the very best in the world internationally, we'd be fools now to discount him.
7 Posted 09/12/2016 at 23:16:50
Too bad that Mistek can't figure out when to come out and when to let his defender shield the player, who had no support to pass to, to the endline. By all means, go ahead and blame the defender who was doing his and William's job for the goalkeeper, who should have been on his line to cover any weak shot Ibra could have gotten off.
8 Posted 10/12/2016 at 01:26:50
9 Posted 10/12/2016 at 01:49:39
IMO Funes Mori is our best centre half, he should be the main man in our defence and we should be looking on playing him, week-in & week-out.
10 Posted 10/12/2016 at 06:11:50
11 Posted 10/12/2016 at 09:25:14
He needs a long run in the team to build his confidence. We will then reap the rewards. I'd like to see both Holgate and Funes Mori in the centre of our defence.
13 Posted 10/12/2016 at 17:43:13
14 Posted 10/12/2016 at 21:00:55
The problem wasn't "Timmy" – how bad does Bravo look with Stones in front of him???
16 Posted 10/12/2016 at 22:55:37
If you think that I'm wrong, then consider how delighted you'd be if Everton had paid in excess of 㿛½ Million for him.
He just WILL NOT learn. That backpass today, for Vardy's hat-rick?
I'm NOT impressed with Williams thus far. Stekelenburrg stinks.
And until our defence is solid again, then we're just no different than this time last season.
17 Posted 10/12/2016 at 23:03:15
18 Posted 10/12/2016 at 23:22:02
Stones is a poor defender; all over the place positionally.
To get 㿛½ million for him is daylight robbery.
19 Posted 10/12/2016 at 23:37:09
Defenders who can defend are old enough.
20 Posted 10/12/2016 at 23:43:19
I still love Degsy.
21 Posted 11/12/2016 at 02:34:14
Amen.
22 Posted 12/12/2016 at 16:59:05
I am worried though that Williams seems to be on a downward slope and is often looking a bit slow and second to the ball. Maybe it's the teams overall lack of confidence but even Coleman doesn't seem to be his normal gut-busting self. Baines has been on the decline for a while and maybe we should have let him go to Man Utd back then.
I see Fellaini is getting a hard time from the Man Utd fans. I'd say he'd be happy enough to come back to us but not sure Koeman would rate him.
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1 Posted 09/12/2016 at 18:32:30
For those who were told they were not good enough by Koeman, get your head out of your arses and prove him wrong.
That is the response he was looking for when he gave you the challenge, not this meekly crying 'cos he upset you.