Anthony Gordon was overjoyed but, for some reason, he felt obliged to offer an explanation as to why his emotions were running away.
‘I live and breathe this — unfortunately,’ said the Everton midfielder. ‘It affects my life daily. I cannot sleep after games like Burnley (last Wednesday, which Everton lost 3-2), especially when I feel I could have done better. I couldn’t sleep, but we recovered. It is part of being a footballer.’
Unfortunately? He seemed to be implying it was a bad thing to care too much, that he needed to clarify — apologise, even — why he has been such bad company as Everton’s results have nosedived.
Gordon is a boyhood Blue whose first thoughts of the day are centred on Goodison Park. So it was refreshing to hear a footballer speak from the heart.
There is nothing wrong with caring and the attitude he showed during his post-match media duties was what separated him from many on the pitch. Gordon’s deflected shot was the reason Everton secured a priceless 1-0 win over an impoverished Manchester United but it was his scampering, tackling and desire to keep working that was so endearing, putting far higher- profile individuals in the shade.
Everton players ran themselves to a standstill. Fabian Delph was cramping under the physical strain, Seamus Coleman pushed himself to the limit after a two-week absence with Covid and Alex Iwobi’s attitude and perseverance was a shining light.
But it was Gordon who embodied the defiance in the stands. The 21-year-old never flinched as he accepted the pressure of trying to lead Everton away from the drop zone. He has been the undisputed shining light of this campaign and simply will not accept the possibility they will be relegated.
‘It was never my thought (we could go down), but as we got a few bad results it became the reality,’ said Gordon, an England Under 21 international.
‘I think we had to finally accept it: this is our reality now until we change it. It definitely has been a thought, but we are too good.
‘It won’t happen. I am a winner. I am not going to accept that (we could be relegated), because of the size of the club, and just me as an individual. It is not going to happen. I’ve heard people say we don’t care. I can never understand that one.
‘As footballers we do this every day, we give our lives to it and we do a lot that people don’t see. I get it if people think we are having bad days and we might be off it, but not caring? I don’t get it.’
That is something which could never be levelled at Gordon, who is one player thriving under Frank Lampard. Gordon had painted a picture in his mind that he could have a decisive impact against United and he hopes this will be the catalyst for a positive finish to the season.
‘I visualised it before the game that I would score and the manager and Joe (Edwards, Lampard’s assistant) had been on at me about goals and assists,’ said Gordon.
‘I can be a bit too emotional but I would rather stay like that than go the other way. That is just who I am. I wouldn’t want to change the player I am. I am that person.’