Barkley had not 'been coached much' before Sarri
Barkley made his first-team debut for Everton at 17
Written by Simon Austin — October 5, 2018
ROSS BARKLEY says he had not “been coached much” before working with Maurizio Sarri and that his development stalled once he began playing first-team football.
The 24-year-old joined Everton when he was 11 and was handed his senior debut by manager David Moyes at the age of 17. After that he played under Roberto Martínez, Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce, before moving to Chelsea this January.
Under Antonio Conte, the midfielder made just two appearances, but has become a mainstay of Sarri’s matchday squads and was yesterday named in England’s 25 for next week’s Nations League games against Croatia and Spain.
“When you go through the youth system, you’re always going in to do analysis work, looking at every way of improving, and your coaches are always on top of you,” Barkley said.
“Then when you get to the first team it can change because managers are focusing on weekly results and not player development. I would say Sarri’s philosophy has helped me a lot because over the years I haven’t been coached much and I am at an age now where I understand football a lot more.
“I know how important it is to take different tactics from different managers on board. I feel like I am ready to understand every aspect of the game.
“I believe that, if I did have that type of approach from a coach when I was younger, then maybe I would have improved a lot more. Where I am right now is where I believe I should be.”
