Everton boss Ronald Koeman has to show Wayne Rooney and the Toffees squad who is boss in his toughest disciplinary assignment so far
RONALD KOEMAN finds it difficult to hide the truth when it comes to talking about his players.
Everton’s hard-line boss confesses he is “not a good actor” and can be “too honest” in his public criticism of stars.
So it was no surprise he almost went for the jugular in his contempt for the antics of shamed striker Wayne Rooney — having put his own neck on the line for him.
There was no attempt to mask how badly he feels let down by the ex-England captain over last Saturday’s 2am drink-drive charge that followed a ten-hour booze session.
Koeman, having already read the riot act and told him to clean up his act this week, said he was “very disappointed” by Rooney.
Before the 31-year-old returned to his spiritual home at Goodison from Manchester United, Koeman had a heart–to–heart with him, underlining that he expected him to curb his party instincts and be an example to Everton’s younger players.
This week, in a far more stressful conversation, he had to tell Rooney that he was facing a two–week club fine of £320,000.
That has been held over until after his appearance in court on September 18.
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But having talked the talk, the Everton boss now has to walk the walk with Rooney.
And if he is not careful, it may be a walk on the wild side unless Roo knuckles down.
For Koeman must live up to his self– created image as one of the Premier League’s strictest disciplinarians.
That means if Rooney steps out of line again he must crack the whip even harder — and, crucially, be seen to be doing so.
Or his authority could be fatally undermined within the rest of a squad he has so carefully and expensively put together this summer with the stated ambition of breaking into the Champions League.
Some might argue that despite the threat of that big fine, Rooney has been let off lightly — especially by someone who has almost gone out of his way to show his players that he is the ultimate authoritarian.
Rooney will keep his place in the side against Tottenham tomorrow so long as Koeman believes he is mentally ready.
It is hard to see how Alex Ferguson would not have blown him out of the United team for one game at least, just to make him suffer as publicly as possible.
This suggests that Koeman, despite his disappointment, finds it too difficult to axe Rooney at the moment.
There is also the fact that Rooney has become the new poster boy of the Toffees.
He is at the centre of majority owner Farhad Moshiri’s masterplan to turn Everton into a top-four club with global appeal.
Roo, having learned his trade at Goodison, has come back to be the corporate identity of the club as the one A-lister on the books.
Without him in the team and for all of Koeman’s £145million spend this summer, there is no superstar.
Far less a player who, until he saw the blue lights flashing last weekend, had shown signs of a return to the form that made him so successful over 13 years at United.
Koeman has spent the last 14 months showing who is boss at Everton after switching from Southampton.
Just a few weeks into his new reign he unceremoniously hauled off home-grown prodigy Ross Barkley at half–time at Sunderland — then told the world the midfielder had to get his act together.
He also axed club captain Phil Jagielka and publicly warned the popular centre-back to raise his game.
This summer his stance on Barkley was hardcore after the 23-year-old refused to sign a new deal. Koeman would not take anything less than £35m for him and, after Chelsea agreed to pay that, Barkley pulled the plug on a deadline-day move.
Koeman said: “Ross also came to see me on Tuesday and he explained why he turned down going to Chelsea.
“That’s a private talk with Ross and I’m not the right man to explain to you about his decision or the reason for that.
“He was open to make a move to another club and from what I heard from the board, there was an agreement between Chelsea and Everton.
But finally the decision was by the player and that is what happened.
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“He is still an Everton player and he has a contract until the end of this season. At this time he is injured and it will take another 2-2½ months until he is available.
“I don’t have to take a decision, I can wait to see what happens and then we will see what the decision will be at that time.”
Koeman also delivered a warning to Kevin Mirallas yesterday to sort out his attitude after the Belgian, 29, went into a huff over a failed move back to Olympiakos.
It was further evidence that — through a glittering playing career that includes a Champions League title with Barcelona as well as managing top–level clubs — he has never been someone to be messed with.
But the Rooney situation is a complicated, delicate one in that Koeman — and the club — have set such store by him.
How Rooney behaves and how Koeman reacts may well become the ultimate test of the Dutchman’s mettle.