Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford believes referees were ‘absolutely harsh’ on him last season.
Speaking on Jill Scott’s Coffee Club podcast, the shot stopper opened up on a difficult season in the Premier League and how he would do ‘anything’ to kill time for a big result.
Pickford was one of the stars of a rough campaign at Goodison Park, with the Toffees conceding the lowest amount of goals out of the bottom seven teams.
Despite criticism in recent years, the 29-year-old has become a fan favourite and his form has resulted in links to the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
However, Jordan Pickford was never distracted from the job at hand and expressed his dedication to the club’s survival to fellow Mackem, Scott.
““When I went back to the drawing board it was all about game management and can you do that better? Sometimes I do take the p*** to be honest!” Pickford said.
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“At Everton when we’re one nil up and you need to kill time I’ll try and do anything.
“To be fair I think the referees have been absolutely harsh on me this season with yellow cards, they’ve been on me literally on the edge of the box and they’re just waiting for me to take my time.
“I’m trying to run, pretend I’m jogging and stuff but they’re definitely on Pickford like.”
The England international picked up a whopping six yellow cards last season, four of which came in narrow wins over Southampton, Arsenal, Leeds United and Bournemouth.
Jordan Pickford’s antics may have been what saved Everton this season
While Jordan Pickford’s exceptional goalkeeping ability played a huge part in Everton’s survival, his time-wasting antics may have played an important role too.
The England international would often be the subject of jeers and boos for the length of time it would take for him to kick the ball – though it never phased him anyway.
He was even mocked by Alisson during the Toffees’ 0-0 stalemate with Liverpool in September – but who is laughing now?
Pickford understandably angers opposing fans and players, but what he is doing certainly works.