OpinionEverton’s Andre Gomes key to English Premier League side living up to their wage bill – and they need him back as soon as possible
- Gary Neville rated Portuguese midfielder when he coached him at Valencia, while brother Phil helped him kick on
- Goodison Park side have lost every game Gomes, who was seriously injured against Spurs, has missed this season
Rare is the occasion when a top-flight football manager walks to a big game. Rarer still is it for a journalist to be with that manager, but in January 2017 I had the privilege of walking towards Camp Nou with Valencia coach Gary Neville for their Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona. The last time Neville visited Camp Nou as a player, he was part of the Manchester United team who won the treble in 1999.
Valencia fans looked twice before offering support for their under pressure boss. One even handed him a letter in faltering English stating that he hoped he realised how important it was to coach Valencia. Of course Neville did, he gave it his everything including two hours of Spanish lessons a day, but not knowing the language was a hindrance, as was not having a wiser number two who knew the league well.
While his spell at Valencia is now mocked, he inherited an inexperienced, lopsided squad which had been poorly reinforced in the close season. Neville was at a politically charged club, where expectations are unrealistically high.whoever is in charge.
Those fans were not happy with Rafa Benitez after he led them to a league title and began to despise Unai Emery after he led them to consecutive third-place finishes. Some wanted more, they wanted to be first.
“Watch Andre Gomes carefully,” Neville told me. “He’s a fantastic player. He’s a powerful attacking midfielder similar in style to Frank Lampard or Michael Ballack. He needs to add goals and assists to his game and his passing needs to improve, but he’s good enough to play here.”