28 May 2024 , 15:44
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin claims Everton fans are right to criticise him because he shares their passion for the Blues.
Calvert-Lewin came under fire from the diehard Gwladys Street End at Goodison Park because of his 23-game goal drought as Everton slipped closer to the drop zone. The striker came good, scoring four times in five games, to help the Blues secure safety, despite their eight-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s PSR laws.
At 27, Calvert-Lewin is mature enough to know they care deeply for the club and he says he shares their feelings after clocking up eight years at Goodison Park as Everton’s No 9. “I think the shirt brings something with it,” he told Everton’s website. “When the going gets tough, it’s tough, don’t get me wrong. It’s a tough load to carry.
“On the flip side, when it’s going well, there’s no feeling like it. Look at scoring four in five and you’ve got the fans singing your name. There’s nothing better. People talk about the importance of embodying the spirit of the club and I feel I’ve done that over the years, knowing how much it means to people. I understand that.
“Honestly, in the toughest moments, I’ve looked at the Gwladys Street and I’ve been criticised and you feel the rage. But then, on the other side of it, I’ve seen the pure elation it brings. People who have worked hard all week to come and watch us play, to hopefully watch me score goals. That’s huge.
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“Criticism is part of the job and I can deal with that, but to give them that feeling of joy and give them that release is a huge thing. I’m getting the same thing from it. I’ve not worked all week to not get that buzz on the weekend.
“Because I take so much pride in wearing Everton’s No 9 shirt, there have been times where I’ve been as equally angry as them. I don’t mind being open about that, because I feel the same as everyone else feels through the highs and the lows. I’m only human.
“But I’m mature and experienced enough now to see the criticism for what it is and it’s from people who just care deeply. When I was a bit younger, perhaps not as much and I’d take it more personally, but you have to go through things to gain perspectives.
“Ultimately, fans want to look on the pitch and see a reflection of themselves. They want to see players giving everything and, in my case, scoring goals.
“It’s part of the role. People look to me to produce big moments and to win games. I love that. I love that ‘he’s done the business for us’ kind of feeling. When there’s a situation of ‘who’s going to produce for us?’, that’s what I live for.”
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