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What a way to introduce yourself to your new club!
In his first full start for Everton, Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a tremendous goal that tied the game and settled the Blues’ nerves as Hajduk Split threatened to tie up the fixture on aggregate.
Speaking to evertontv after the game, he said -
“Personally, it was fantastic to get my first goal for the Club – and in a fantastic stadium and fantastic atmosphere as well.
“I probably did not expect to score from there. But I managed to get a touch on the ball – it was sitting up quite nicely and I thought to myself, ‘the keeper is probably not on his line’… so I decided to go for it and, thankfully, it beat the keeper and hit the target.
“We are going home happy, which is the main thing. The most important thing was to get the result and be in the hat for the draw.”
| THIS is how you score your first goal for #EFC!! #EFCawayday #UEL pic.twitter.com/zfGQF74gIe
— Everton (@Everton) August 24, 2017
Sigurdsson lasted the full ninety minutes to the surprise of many fans, thought it took some cajoling from the manager Ronald Koeman to get him there.
“I was just fully focused on how tough this game was going to be and making sure I got through it, fitness wise.
“It was my first start since pre-season and my first 90 minutes. I am a bit tired but I really enjoyed it. It was a good night for me personally and for the team.
“The manager kept saying to me, ‘10 more minutes, 10 more minutes’. He must have said it three or four times. Then I looked at the clock and it said 85 minutes. But at the end he said, ‘you needed the minutes’!
“But the last 10 minutes wasn’t too difficult, we were keeping the ball really well and making them chase it. It was pleasing for me to get through it, get 90 minutes under my belt and get the goal as well.
“It was a great night of football, the home and away fans were terrific. These are the kind of nights you want to be involved in, in big stadiums, with great fans.”
The Icelander was easily one of the best players on the pitch, and it was clear to see that the game slowed down for him. There’s plenty to be excited for Everton fans apart from the goal as well.