OPINION
Sometimes in football something will be said – by a pundit, an opposition player or manager – which simply acts as the perfect pre-match pep talk in the dressing room, and that is exactly what Southampton’s Mark Hughes has handed Everton’s Marco Silva ahead of their clash this weekend.
The two clubs will meet at Goodison Park for their second league game of the season, with both sides having picked up a solitary point in their first outing, the Saints drawing at home to Burnley while the Toffees were matched by Wolves in a 2-2 stalemate.
New arrival Richarlison netted both goals for Silva and his men at Molineux, but it appears as though Hughes has disregarded the new Everton talents, stating that there may not be a better time to play them due to the lack of time spent at the club.
He was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: “They’ve made a big investment in the team and in the manager, by all accounts.
“It may be that now is the best time to play them given the changes they have undertaken and maybe mid-season they will be better acquainted with the guys they brought in. But games at Goodison are always difficult for opposition teams.”
If that does not light a fire in the belly of Silva and his new signings, nothing will, and Hughes is setting himself up for a trouncing here.
Yes, perhaps the Toffees are not as gelled as they could be, but to suggest they are at a weakness is simply providing ammo to the opposition when it comes to getting pumped up for the clash.
All Silva needs to do is repeat Hughes’ quote and ask his players to prove them wrong – their fighting mentality will do the rest, and it could turn into a hiding.
If Southampton win, all the manager has done is provide an excuse, belittling the achievements of his own players, and if he loses, then he ends up with egg on his face – perhaps the only way to get out of this with any success is a draw.