Baines: Everton rise down to Koeman’s mentality

Leighton Baines believes Everton’s ability to reflect the style of manager Ronald Koeman has been the key to their rise up the Premier League table.

The Toffees are currently on an eight-game unbeaten run in the top flight, sitting seventh with just 13 games to play in a bid to improve on last season’s bottom-half finish.

The campaign has not always been so fluid on Merseyside though, with a 5-0 hammering at the hand of league leaders Chelsea the start of a five-game winless run across the winter.

But Baines thinks the change in fortunes since those disappointing days has been no coincidence and is delighted his side have adapted to Koeman’s mentality since the new boss’ arrival from Southampton last summer.

(Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)

“What we’ve shown comes from the manager. Of course, it takes time but the team starts to reflect the manager out on the pitch,” said Baines. “The manager wants intensity, a bit of aggression and good football as well.

“We can improve in all of those departments – you always can – but I think he has been more pleased in what he is seen in that respect [recently].

“We’re on a good run at the moment and, obviously, we’ve been working hard this week to extend that. We all know they’re all tough games but we’ve had good preparation and there’s a good feeling around the place so we’ll try to keep that momentum going.

“At this level, there are fine lines at times. We work hard every week, we’ve been on a good run, a bad run and now we’re back on another good run – but, generally, the work we’ve done has been the same.”