Richarlison wants to realise Champions League dream at Everton

I'd be absolutely delighted if he stayed and he is one of the few players in the squad we should really be breaking the bank to keep.

There's only so much room at the top table, and all the chairs are well & truly taken.

We're sat in the cheap seats near the back peering over people's shoulders.

Hopefully we now have winners on the coaching staff to help him realise our joint ambitions. And I liked also his honesty in saying he doesn't want Liverpool to win the Champions League.

As others have said, get that new contract sorted now and build the team around him. Watched the recent training video put out by the club – mentioned to my lad just how young the nucleus of this squad is. I believe the new management team has the potential to take these lads a long way and with the addition of a couple of quality signings here and there (centre-half and central midfielder) who knows. Onwards & upwards COYB.

What sneering negative comments?

All I see is supporters have a different opinion. Sorry, I forgot... we're on TW– you're not allowed, are you?

I reckon Tuchel will have go where others have gone at Chelsea and there’ll be another period of “rebuilding” and I genuinely don’t know who is supposed to be next in the pecking order for the final spot.

Richarlison Interview

For me both his intensity and love for the game, but also his humility, shine through.

On the managers he has played under at Everton there is no mention of Silva, which is interesting given he played for him at Watford and for us.

He is clearly very enamoured of Ancelotti. He believes the Italian WOULD have got Everton European football, but understands you don't turn down Real Madrid.

When asked if Carlo called to take him to Real, Richy cleverly swerves the question with a little laugh, saying they still exchange messages and that he improved him a lot as a player. In a fun question and answer at the end, Richy is asked who would be the highest paid in his team. He didn't choose a player. He chose Ancelotti.

On Benitez he says at the start of the season with everyone fit the team did well, but that he was unlucky with so many key injuries. He also said it simply didn't work out.

On Lampard (and this was recorded after the Newcastle game and before the Leeds game) he says he has quickly got the team playing in the best way - pressing possession football, going forward. He knows Frank as an English idol and Richy himself played Lampard along with Ballack and Dogba in his FIFA team as a kid.

He expresses the ambition to qualify for Europe with Everton. Although via the league this season is difficult, why not next season with new players under Frank Lampard?

He speaks fondly of the affection he has for Everton fans and that they have for him. That BMD will be a big move for the club.

When asked about which English club he would like to win the CL, he doesn't offer any of them, but categorically states 'NOT LIVERPOOL!!!'

Of course he is asked about the Brazil national team in World Cup year and winning the Olympics last year.

On the number of games he played in 2021, the interviewer asking there surely must be a limit to the number of games we ask top players to play, Richy disagrees. His answer for me showed his love and desire for playing. He wants to play every minute of every game he can.

He gave the example of Brazil's opening game in the Olympics v Germany when he scored a remarkable first half hat-trick. Brazil won 4-0 and quite reasonably the Brazil coach subbed him out in the 2nd half. He was pissed at the coach asking him why he took him out. Subsequently, he played every minute of all their remaining games, even though he himself admitted he was exhausted in some of them.

In this I would say he needs to be protected from himself. You see many a time his sour face when subbed out. As I've always said, it's because he wants to play. Remember the away game v Palace when he was subbed because he was injured and went on to miss the next few games?

It hurt him to miss out on the last two selections for Brazil's World Cup campaign due to injury and he doesn't delude himself. He is concerned for his place, all the more so in World Cup year.
He recognizes Raphinha and Antony played well in his place in his absence.

'In Brazil there are always players challenging to take your place.'

Interestingly, he mentions that recently a couple of Brazil's coaching staff observed him in training at Finch Farm for a couple of days to see how he was. We can be the beneficiaries of his determination to get back into the Brazil squad.

His default image on his cell phone is a photo of the World Cup, so that is evidently a big motivation for him.

In a dream scenario, he would prefer to play Germany in the final and avenge the 7-1 humiliation, rather than play regional rivals Argentina.

There is mention of him being an embassador for the Covid vaccination program in Brazil. He says if he can convince just one person to vaccinate, he will consider it a great victory.

He speaks of losing his first coach to Covid and doesn't take issue with players who don't vaccinate, saying it is for each individual to make the decision for themselves, but with responsibility. That they need to then protect their loved ones and others.

Finally, some of the fun Q&As. A cruel one to start with!

Who wouldn't you change faces with?! Apologies to Gabriel Jesus.

Who would you choose to play your entire life with? Neymar.

Who would be your model if your had your own clothes brand? Our very own Allan, who apparently has learnt a lot of style from his days in Italy.

Who would lead the singing in the changing rooms? Dani Alves. No surprise here. I believe he has his own recording company in Brazil.

Who would you choose to do the Pigeon Dance with? Again, an Everton player. Yerry Mina. Always smiling. Always playful. Good mover!

Who would you pass the ball to in the final minute of a game to score the winning goal? James Rodriguez.

He is an extremely likable fellah is Richy.

His sale might enable us to buy the holding midfielder and centre back we still need.

Always a trade off unfortunately, but ultimately it comes down to what offers we get in for him and whether he will sign a contract extension.

Brazilian number 9s don't arrive too often at Goodison, we should all enjoy his performances whilst he is here.

Respecting Ancelotti and Rodriguez is no surprise both world class.

He would like to make the Brazil number 9 shirt his own and considers it his best position, rather than playing second striker wide as many consider where he is most effective. Including me!

I reiterate: I love Richarlissons attitude and commitment. And he “gets us” too. Good enough for me

Any more performances like today and it's the Championship – not the Champions League – that Richarlison will be playing in.

I actually think they think we are too good to go down. Not what I am watching. Don't worry; you'll move on if Championship football comes.

Take the money and run.

We constantly criticise our club and players for lacking fight and ambition and being quite happy at the "Comfy Club", so maybe we should support one of our lads when he publicly declares just how ambitious he actually is.

If Leicester can finish 5th two seasons running and win the FA Cup, then there's no reason we can't do something similar or maybe even better. It's not easy, it looks a long way off at the moment, but it's certainly not impossible.