Following a decent start to the 2021-22 season, Alex Iwobi has revealed the impact Everton manager Rafael Benitez has had on his improved form this campaign.
The 25-year-old claimed the training sessions of the Spanish coach has impacted his game as well as the team’s overall performances.
Benitez replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park in June and as a result, the Nigeria international has played in every one of Everton’s matches this season, and he has a goal with an assist to his name already.
“The manager is always talking to me and trying to help me,” Iwobi told Everton Tv “It’s helped me a lot so far this season.
“It’s not just me, of course, but the whole team [he speaks to]. My confidence is playing a big part, too. I’m pushing a bit more up the field and getting involved in attacks.
“I just need to add more goals and assists, like the manager wants. With the manager, he doesn’t give us any rest, he’s onto us 24/7. This is what we need.
“You can see everyone’s playing with a lot of confidence. That big motivation is there [to continue achieving positive results].
“We’ve started off very well, but we have to keep going until the end. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Iwobi has started two games in the starting XI and he came on as a substitute in the other two outings.
After missing Nigeria’s 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying match against Cape Verde on Tuesday, Iwobi – who provided two assists in the 2-0 win over Liberia on Friday – is back in Merseyside and he is in contention to play when the sixth-placed Toffees host Burnley for Monday’s Premier League fixture.
