Digne hopes thriving at Everton will carry him to Euro2020

Sunday, 17 November, 2019 31comments  |  Jump to most recent

Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images

Lucas Digne says that he feels he is most suited to the Premier League after spells in his native France, Italy and Spain.

The French international was interviewed by Le Parisien ahead of his country's final Euro2020 qualifier against Albania this evening and he was asked in which areas he feels he has progressed most since arriving in England with Everton.

Digne stressed the physical demands and the pace of the Premier League together with the advanced role demanded of him by Marco Silva has having forced him to develop his game .

“I had to adapt quickly to the intensity, the physical impact, playing forward quickly and repeating high-intensity effort,” the full-back explained. “I am asked to be very offensive but this involves defensively many one-on-one duels because the matches are very open. This is the championship that suits me best.

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“I have more fun playing every weekend. The hardest thing is to constantly play at a very high level. This is what happens to the big players. The key to this is to take care of yourself, to be vigilant about recovery, especially when playing two games in 48 hours like on Boxing Day. This mainly involves food and sleep.

Digne, was asked whether he was surprised to inherit the captain's armband for a few weeks at Everton.

“There was a list of four captains,” he replied. “I was the fourth so I knew it could happen even if the probability was low. It is a source of pride to wear this armband. I've only be at the club for a season and a half, so it's a great sign of confidence.

“Apart from in the France youth team, I hadn't ever worn the armband. It must be said that in Paris, Rome or Barcelona, ​​it would have been complicated!”

Digne's switch to Goodison last year hasn't been the only big change in his life — his wife Tiziri gave birth to their son earlier this year.

“There are more delicate nights than others but it is still happiness,” he smiled. ”If he wakes up, I'll go hug him even if it's 2 or 3 in the morning. But it brings me so much joy and energy that I am going to workout in great form at 8 o'clock.

“The balance of family life is essential to achieve good performance.”

Having missed out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia which France won, Digne hopes his club form will carry him to next year's European Championship finals.

[At Everton], the goals are simple: we must do better than last season. As an individual, it's the same principle. I look at my statistics, the percentage of duels won, the number of successful crosses...

"I was selected as player of the season [last year and] it makes me happy but these [statistics] are more concrete.

"The France team is the continuity of what I realise at club level. It's up to me to put all the odds on my side."

 

Reader Comments (31)

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David Pearl
1 Posted 17/11/2019 at 17:25:49
Well spending so much yet again the team goals shouldnt be looking to better the previous year... it should always be trying to win the league. Especially after we have been looking to improve the quality of player every window.

What a disappointment this season has been. No denying that. I think we are all on edge waiting for the moment everything just clicks. We should be expectant. Digne could of been better this season. Of course the cross for Tosun was his best moment of the year but that aside he could of been better.

Yet again, we have good players. Hopefully we don't have any further injuries and we can get a settled team which allows us to play and stick in form. We have many young improving players. Very pleased that Holgate and Davies are looking like important pieces.

Impatience. Definitely on my part.

Mark Guglielmo
2 Posted 17/11/2019 at 18:31:44
David, I agree with you that Digne's form has been "off" this year more often than not. How much do you think it can be attributed to his partnership with Bernard being infrequent and stop-start? I believe they've only played together in 6 of 12 games so far, and not more than 3 in a row.
Paul Setter
3 Posted 17/11/2019 at 19:07:26
My favourite player since Cahill. His attitude is brilliant proper gets the club and even if having a bad game he is still very capable of a moment of quality.
He is better than 18/19 other clubs left backs by far.
We are very lucky to have him..
Stan Schofield
4 Posted 17/11/2019 at 19:50:35
Paul, I think he's better than 19/19 other clubs' left backs. Considering he has to perform in a usually dysfunctional side, he's exceptional. It would be far easier to perform in a team that is habitually in good form.
Brian Wilkinson
5 Posted 17/11/2019 at 20:01:48
My big worry was finding a replacement for Baines, initially I would have been made up had we got a Tierney from Celtic, when we got Digne, it only took a few games to think we have someone special here.

I still say he is one if not the best left backs in the Premiership.

What would be nice in the summer is a double testimonial for Baines and Jagielka with proceeds going to Everton in the Community.

While I am on a roll, Paul McCartney to play at Goodison Park, before we bow out of the old lady, he has done Anfield so now Goodison.

Mike Gaynes
6 Posted 17/11/2019 at 20:50:18
Wonderful player, Brands' best signing by a country mile, but definitely off form for much of this season, particularly at the attacking end -- the pinpoint crosses of last spring are mostly flying 20 yards too long today.

Our hopes of salvaging this season rest in no small measure on Digne's being at the top of his game.

David Pearl
7 Posted 17/11/2019 at 22:03:29
Hello Mark, hope all is good. Yes l would agree he has seen some changes in who he interacts with going forward. He always looks more comfortable with Bernard ahead of him. And then he also had to hope Bernard was having a good game. Its been like that all over the pitch. Even though we should be doing better l have seen some glimmers of hope the past month. That could all change over the next 5 games.

Brian, l have put a lot of thought into it and I think you could be right in that Baines and Jags could share a testimonial. However l think the proceeds should come to me.

Anyone remember how the half time hit the bar challenge was to win up to 10 grand. Now its you hit it once you get a pie. Hit it twice you get a pie and toilet roll. Hit it 3 times you get a voucher for the McDonalds at Anfield. Or something like that. Its a bit boring this international break.

Brian Wilkinson
8 Posted 17/11/2019 at 23:07:12
I remember the hit the bar when we played Preston in the cup around 99/2000 season Dave, there was a gale blowing towards the Park end, typical Everton, they made the guy take it against the wind towards the Street end, hence to say none even reached the target.
Lester Yip
9 Posted 17/11/2019 at 23:16:19
Brilliant signing. Great skill and work rate.The only question that I have is when it comes to crosses, it just seems quite often being blocked or not reaching someone?
Clarence Yurcan
10 Posted 18/11/2019 at 02:44:50
Lucas absolutely must be a regular in the France team. Guy has completely reinvigorated and revitalized his career coming to Everton
Darren Hind
11 Posted 18/11/2019 at 05:52:32
Great

Another statto.

He needs Stop looking at his stats and start analysing The goals we have conceded and how he didnt do his part.

Everyone knows what he can do with a ball and we love that part of his game. Its when He/We don't have it that his tendancy to slip into a coma becomes apparent.

Darren Hind
12 Posted 18/11/2019 at 06:04:40
Lester

Agreed. Digne has long since been identified as a great source of supply for us. The opposition are closing him down quicker.
If he played across the park he would be able to send these crosses in without taking a touch first. Their full backs have this luxury because they Know 2/3 forwards would be busting a gut to get on the end of it.
Unfortunately Lucas doesnt have that luxury. he either has to find one closely marked striker, or take a touch and wait for the cavalry to arrive

Phil Sammon
13 Posted 18/11/2019 at 07:41:11
If Digne is judged to be ‘off form’ then the verdict for the rest of the team must be truly dire.

You’ve gotta love this lad. A smart player with tonnes of class. He’s dragged us out of the mire singlehandedly on a few occasions too.

I was watching a replay of the Lincoln game the other day (desperation on international week). His free kick was top drawer. Then followed up with a great bit of skill and a sublime cross for Richarlison.

I’m sure we’d all like to see it more often, but he’s probably one of the few players who can hold their head up this season.

Daniel A Johnson
14 Posted 18/11/2019 at 08:27:47
Great player great signing,

But I can think of at least 5 times when he was directly responsible for us conceding a goal. Remains to be seen if he can concentrate for a full 90min yet. Always seems to have at least one gaffe in him a match.

Alan J Thompson
15 Posted 18/11/2019 at 14:00:25
It sounds very much as though Digne is enjoying playing at Everton but there seems to be something he isn't saying or doesn't sound quite right, "defensive one on ones" and "asked to be very offensive". To me that has to be taken further, why isn't something in place or working to prevent him getting hurriedly back for a one on one or more players in the box to complement his attacking play. Sorry, but there's something there that doesn't sound quite right to me, more something not said than said.
Mark Guglielmo
16 Posted 18/11/2019 at 14:25:58
Alan, I think you're reading into things way too much, but assuming there is something there...if I had to hazard a guess, it's simply a comment around how a fullback is used in a high-pressing 4231 set-up. I don't believe France utilizes their fullbacks that way, and I know Barça doesn't.
Mike Gaynes
17 Posted 18/11/2019 at 15:17:44
Daniel #14, cite some examples from those five times? I can't think of nearly that many, and certainly not a gaffe per game.
Arild Andersen
18 Posted 18/11/2019 at 20:55:00
On another left back note, a danish site quotes Steve Walsh who claims that he had deals ready for Andy Robertson as well as Harry Maguire for 20 million pounds from Hull when he was DOF, but that Everton didn't want them. He doesn't say who. He also claims to have negotiated a 4m deal with striker Erling Braut Haalands father, also rejected by Everton. I don't say it's true, just mentioning it.
Bobby Mallon
19 Posted 18/11/2019 at 21:26:51
Arils @18 I heard that also came from the Athletic
Alan J Thompson
20 Posted 19/11/2019 at 03:12:19
Mark(#16); Lucas Neil commented some years back that there is a big difference between playing central defence and full back, having to get up and down the field in the latter. My point is that if the Manager wants his full backs attacking more and then plays a defensive midfielder who maintains that position, as per Schneiderlin, then why mention hurrying back for a one on one other than recovering his defensive position, and why play those out wide, Bernard & Richarlison for example, and not have more players in the box. Sounds very much like either no plan to cover attacking full backs or only half instructions being either issued or understood. It doesn't sound right or perhaps complete may be a better word.

As for France and Barcelona, perhaps they play more through the middle than Everton tend to under Silva.

Bobby Mallon
21 Posted 19/11/2019 at 20:16:09
Pochettino sacked
Eamonn McEvoy
22 Posted 19/11/2019 at 20:38:31
Just read that, crazy stuff. Could we get him???
Kevin Latham
23 Posted 19/11/2019 at 21:19:31
So Pochettino is now available. Maybe a test of our ambition would be to try to replace Silva with him. When Klopp became available the rs were doing fairly well under Rodgers but they didn’t think twice about kicking him into touch for Klopp, and look what happened. This is what real ambition is about, even though Rodgers had nearly won them the league - but somehow I think that plucky old Everton will labour on. and on
Steve Ferns
24 Posted 19/11/2019 at 21:31:19
Pochettino is going to choose between Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Man Utd. What on Earth can Everton offer Pochettino to make him choose us over them? We won’t be able to match their wages, their budgets and we certainly cannot offer champions league football.
Brian Williams
25 Posted 19/11/2019 at 21:32:23
Everton can offer him the unconditional backing of one Steve Ferns?
Steve Ferns
26 Posted 19/11/2019 at 21:33:18
I already promised that to Marco!
Mark Guglielmo
27 Posted 19/11/2019 at 23:11:42
IMO the only thing more detached from reality than thinking Poch would come to Everton is thinking Mourinho would come to Everton. Steve @24 is spot on.
John Boon
28 Posted 20/11/2019 at 01:07:26
Most posts as usual completely off the topic, "Digne". Hopefully Everton stay well off-topic by completely disregarding either Potchettino or, even worse, Mourino.

However, thankfully, neither would want to come. Their post-game interviews alone would drive any sane person up the wall. They would actually make Silva sound eloquent.

Hugh Jenkins
29 Posted 20/11/2019 at 08:33:14
Trying to appoint Pochettino wouldn't be the "Everton Way".

At the moment, (and I stress the "ATM" part), I am happy with this.

I think Silva is a good manager, with a vision and the failing, at the moment, is that he doesn't yet have the full quality of personnel at his disposal to give that vision life.

But I hope, (if I am right) that we are currently "building a brand" at Everton and that soon, it will all "click" and we won't look back for the next 20 years as we replicate the first spell under HK and go that final step to become EPL and European Champions on a consistent basis.

Well - I can dream - can't I?

But I do, honestly believe, that Silva will take us forward, once a few things fall into place.

Stan Schofield
30 Posted 20/11/2019 at 10:12:38
Kevin @23: When Liverpool sacked Rodgers they weren't doing very well. They were below us in the league, having problems with consistency, and with big defensive issues. In fact, they were averaging 1.5 points per game, which Klopp also averaged for quite a while after he took over. The media pundits were warning Klopp that the Premier League was tougher than the German League, reminding him that 'even Everton' were above them.

Rodgers was sacked not that long after Man City pipped Liverpool to win the Premier League, and after a 1-1 draw with us in which Liverpool's frailties were the final straw. There were no guarantees with Klopp, and even he could be sacked if Liverpool fail to win the Premier League this season. Believe me, I've witnessed heated arguments, not very long ago, between Liverpool supporters over whether Klopp should be sacked. Some were claiming him weak defensively, a habitual loser in finals, overrated, and full of himself. Quite different from the media, particularly BBC, image.

Things can change very quickly. As one of our recent managerial incumbents would have said, "That is football". Our fortunes can change very quickly, which returns us to Digne's comments as the subject of this thread.

Mark Andersson
31 Posted 21/11/2019 at 04:57:12
Pochettino? Perfect for Everton: won fuck all and has been sacked because his team has gone backwards...

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