COLEMAN: Martinez has given me a licence to thrill…
and so far it’s going well
Thanks to a series of swashbuckling displays, Seamus Coleman is having the season of his life at Everton. Sportsmail columnist Kevin Kilbane sits down with the young Ireland defender and finds out just why he’s having such an impact.
Kevin Kilbane: You have been doing so well this season and you are clearly enjoying it.I have seen Roberto Martinez say the most impressive thing is your decision-making. What do you think has changed this season from any other season?
Seamus Coleman: I’m not sure. I think last season I got a go at my preferred position, right-back, David Moyes gave me a chance there and I started to enjoy it.As the season went on I got stronger and stronger and then we had a few international games against England and Spain and I did well in them.
Talking a good game: In-form Everton defender Seamus Coleman sits down with Sportsmail’s Kevin Kilbane
COLEMAN FACTFILE
1988: Born October 11 and raised in Killybegs.
2006: Sligo Rovers sign the 18-year-old after impressing for his local side St Catherine’s.
2009: Everton beat off competition from Celtic to sign Coleman for just £60,000.
2009: Makes his debut for David Moyes’ side in a 5-0 Europa League defeat to Benfica.
2011: Earns his first call up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad by Giovanni Trapattoni and makes debut against Wales.
2012: Left out of the squad for the European Championships but signs a new five and a half year deal at Goodison Park.
2013/14: Under new boss Roberto Martinez, Coleman has continued his progress with six goals already this season.
I just came back a lot more confident than maybe previous seasons and the new manager has come in and he has been fantastic.He is so positive and he said ‘I want you to score goals as a full-back because you have the physical attributes to get up and down’ — and I have been working every week on the training ground to improve.
It is just confidence, I suppose.Last season when I got in the box I would be looking to make an assist or put a cross in. Now I am not afraid to shoot.
KK: That is not such a bad thing. One thing I have noticed is, you have your five goals already but you are still looking to create as well and you have been the main source of, or equal to, assists with Bainesy (Leighton Baines)
SC: Bainesy has been fantastic and plenty of times he has been there to advise on what runs to make and so on and I have picked up a lot from him.A lot of it is down to confidence and maybe taking on things and having a shot and not be afraid of getting a rollicking from the older lads. I have kind of gone past that stage. Not that I don’t care but I feel comfortable.
In it goes: Coleman scores for Everton as they thrashed QPR in the FA Cup
KK: What difference has Roberto Martinez made to your game?
SC: He likes me to get forward, wants me to score goals.I remember the first game of the season and at half-time he showed me a bit of TV and buduman said ‘you might get in here when Bainesy crosses’ and I scored my goal in the second half because I took a chance and maybe I wouldn’t have done that last season. I feel when I score in one game, I am going to score in the next one, but if I get an assist from crosses to help us win the game I am happy.
KK: Do you feel like you belong and established now?Did you feel like that when you first came over?
SC: Yeah, I feel comfortable in the team. I’ve said before when I first came over I signed a two-and-a-half-year deal and I looked at that as a long trial.I had heard plenty of stories of people coming over and after two years are back home playing in the League of Ireland again. So I didn’t sign for Everton and think ‘that’s it I’ve done it all now’ or whatever. I suppose I still don’t think like that.
Encouragement: Roberto Martinez wants Coleman to get forward and score goals
KK: That has got to be a good thing, having that attitude.
