Pickford responds to question, has words twisted

Jordan Pickford maybe one of a new generation of sweeper-keepers but the Toffees no.1 isn’t going to stray beyond his capabilities.

in a wide-ranging interview with the Telegraph, Pickford discusses the role of the modern goalkeeper and the demands placed on them by managers to be good with their feet.

Of course goalkeepers dribbling out with the ball comes with an inherent risk, as we saw last weekend.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was dispossessed inside his own area while attempting a Cruyff turn while Arsenal’s Petr Cech was criticised for his performance with the ball at his feet playing for Arsenal against Cardiff.

Pickford is very much in the mould of the modern goalkeeper: comfortable on the ball, with good distribution and quick to come out of his area. However, the England international isn’t going to try and be too clever.

“I try not to do tricks because I don’t want to be caught with it. It’s a risk.

“It’s a style of play and I think that’s the way Liverpool want to play as well. You’ve got to accept where mistakes will happen and it’s about not making the next one.

“It’s all about managing the game and not making it again in the same game I’d say. Look at Ederson at City, Guardiola puts a lot of faith in him doing it and mistakes happen all over the pitch - the goalkeeper mistake is always a crucial one or gets talked about a lot.

“For me, I’m going to try not to put myself in that position to make those mistakes.. You don’t want to get too comfortable if you’re winning and start trying to be a No 10 player.”

It’s no surprise that these quotes have been twisted by some sections of the media to try and make it into some sort of dig at Allison. As funny as the Brazilian’s blunder was, Pickford isn’t going to criticise one of his own and is likely to be disappointed to see his words twisted all in the name of cheap clicks.

Pickford WAS asked directly about Cech, who has struggled to adapt to new manager Unai Emery’s methods. But the former Sunderland man refused to criticise the 36-year-old.

“Petr Cech has been a top keeper in the Premier League for the last 10-12 years.

“When you’re growing up you see him making these saves week in week out. He’s probably been the most consistent goalkeeper in these last 10 years in the Premier League, so you can’t give him too much criticism. I’m certainly not giving him any, I think he’s a great goalkeeper and someone you look up to.”

Pickford is currently on international duty with England as the Three Lions look to build on the momentum gained during their run to the World Cup semi-finals and the improved relationship with the supporters.

Gareth Southgate’s side face Spain at Wembley on Saturday with Pickford expected to start and the 26-year-old is hoping to build on his side’s exploits in Russia.

“I think we won the fans back and the nation back, as a group of lads.

“We only want to get better and better. Off the field is just as important as on it and we try and do as much as we can off the field to help give the nation a feel-good factor and I think that helps.

“You have got to win every game, that has to be your aim and if you win your little mini-group you go into something in June and we just want to win our games and if we can win the first Nations League it will give us the confidence going into the Euros in 2020.”