WATCH: Eliaquim Mangala’s comments after signing for Everton

Everton completed the signing of Eliaquim Mangala from Manchester City late on Deadline Day, with the confirmation announcement only coming in the early hours of this morning.

The defender is excited to come to Everton, and his comments reflected that in his first interview on evertontv.

“Everton is a very good team with quality players, and I want to play in a team that has a lot of quality and ambition

“I want to bring my experience and all my energy. There is already quality and experience at the Club but it is very important for me to come here and add something more to the team.

“I am fresh and fit and very motivated – and I am very excited about showing my qualities here.

“I am ready to play and ready to win games – like tonight [the 2-1 victory over Leicester City], that is the most important thing for me.”

The defender will train with his new teammates for the first time today, with the atmosphere around the club lifted following a big win last night.

“It is always good for the confidence and atmosphere when the team is winning. It is good to develop the winning habit. When you win, everything is easier and it was very important to win against Leicester.

“As a defender, I am very solid, I like to challenge. Clean sheets are the most important thing. I have the mentality at the start of every game that we are not going to concede. That is the basic for a back-four – then, if you are very stable at the back, it is easier for the whole team.

“You cannot win every game 2-0 or 3-0, sometimes you have to win 1-0. To do that, you have to be solid at the back.”

With that comment you can see why manager Sam Allardyce brought in Mangala - the two appear to be on the same wavelength there. Indeed, the player is happy to work with Big Sam as well.

“You can see with all the teams he has managed, they have always had a great spirit, he is very good at building this type of atmosphere.

“Sometimes, it is difficult to make all the qualities in a squad work in the same direction. He is doing very well and it is very important to keep that going until the end of the season.

“That is the important thing – to have the same goals and objectives as the manager. It is very important for me and the team. It makes the game easier.”

Here’s wishing Mangala all the best as a Blue!