Seamus Coleman can never be accused of a lack of passion.
It is Coleman’s burning desire for success and demand for the highest of standards which saw him named captain of both Everton and the Republic of Ireland.
The Toffees’ right-back’s emotion was on full display on Saturday afternoon, when he found the net against Brighton & Hove Albion from the edge of the area and celebrated wildly in front of the Goodison Park faithful.
Coleman seemingly cupped his ears as a message to those who have criticised his form this season and after the match, which Everton won 3-1, the Killybegs man insisted that his celebration was not intended as a dig towards his own supporters.
“There’s a bit of everything,” Coleman explained. “My first goal since I broke my leg and I’ve been getting a bit of stick. When I came back here in January and played against Leicester the reception I got from Everton fans is something which will stay with me for a long time.
“As footballers we all get stick so it’s not like I’m having a go back at the fans, it’s just me saying ‘I’m all right’. When I am fit and at it I am OK. It’s not against the fans because that night in January is something which will stay with me for a long time.
“The fans understand the love I have for them and vice-versa.
“It’s part and parcel of the game. Players can be very precious over criticism. The only way you can keep going is keep battling, keep doing the right things, keep working hard in training, keep listening to the manager, and your luck will turn around and that happened to me.”
Coleman was also refreshingly honest in admitting that he has been below what would be expected of him at stages of this campaign.
The 30-year-old, like all good captains, is his own worst critic and claimed that nobody needs to tell him when he is not up to scratch because he already knows.
“I’ve been here nine years and had good spells of form and bad spells of form,” Coleman added.
“Never mind being aware of it from the outside, I am one person who is very capable of taking it on the chin and knowing when I am not good enough.
“There have been a couple of times this season when I’ve not been good enough and that’s fine, I take that on the chin, work hard and try to improve every day. Thankfully today my hard work paid off.”
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