The Liverpool Echo’s head of sport David Prentice has recently discussed a quote from Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti regarding Yerry Mina.
So far this season, the 25-year-old centre-back has featured in both of the Toffees’ Premier League matches and picked up a 6.89/10 average rating (per WhoScored).
During the recent 5-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park, Mina was awarded a 6/10 performance rating by the Liverpool Echo and it was stated that he had a ‘sloppy first half’.
Speaking after the clash with the Baggies, Ancelotti discussed the defender’s performance and stated that it was just “average“.
So, in the latest episode of Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast, Prentice discussed what Ancelotti had to say about him after being asked whether there were issues to be sorted within the defence.
He said: “Oh, definitely [there are defensive issues], but Carlo’s addressing them already.
“I mean, he spoke afterwards about Yerry Mina’s performance, and having bigged him up at Tottenham, he described his performance as ‘average’ at the weekend.
“That was a pointed comment because those problems that were caused in the first half, there was a little bit of a lack of balance in midfield, but they seemed to all come down West Brom’s left-hand channel, Everton’s right.
“Seamus Coleman was great, I thought – it was like the old Seamus Coleman at the weekend – but Yerry Mina wasn’t as switched on alongside him as maybe he might have been.
“[He] certainly didn’t close down [Grady] Diangana quickly enough for the opening goal. So, Ancelotti’s right to highlight him and it points out, as well, the deficiencies that we have in that part of the pitch.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what the journalist had to say, he evidently believes that Mina’s performance was rightly labelled as “average” by Everton’s Italian gaffer.
Do you think Yerry Mina is a good enough defender for Everton?
No, he's not that good
Yes, he's a good player
In the opening game of the 2020/21 Premier League season, the 25-year-old centre-back delivered an impressive 7.19/10 match rating against Tottenham Hotspur (per WhoScored).
So, hopefully, over the remainder of the campaign, the Colombian can deliver performances closer to that level than what he did against West Brom.