Idrissa Gueye has opened up on the 'difficult' ordeal he endured as he watched Everton fight to preserve their top-flight status last season.
Everton finished 16th last term, having secured their Premier League survival on the penultimate day with a dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Frank Lampard’s side came from 2-0 down at the break to claim all three points at Goodison Park.
Thousands of Everton supporters arrived early ahead of their side’s last three home matches and took to the streets to produce incredible scenes as the Blues arrived for their games. Banners and flags were on full display, there was constant loud singing and numerous smoke bombs filled the air to create a raucous atmosphere.
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Similar scenes had also been witnessed outside Finch Farm ahead of the Blues' two away trips to Leicester City and Watford as supporters looked to inspire their side over the line. However, at one point, it looked like Everton would be playing their football this season in the Championship.
Defeats to Wolves, West Ham United, Burnley and Brentford left Blues supporters fearing the worst. However, the victory over Palace turned that fear into relief as Goodison erupted when the final whistle against the Eagles was blown.
Gueye, who was part of a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain line-up last season, had no relegation fears of his own to contend with as his side celebrated another Ligue 1 title. But that didn’t stop the midfielder going through a range of emotions as he watched the Blues crawl over the line.
“It would happen every time,” Gueye said when asked how often he would watch the Blues during his three-year absence from Goodison Park.
“My friends would say, ‘Oh, get out with your team!’... They used to try to wind me up because they knew how much I cared, but I told them, ‘You will see, we will be okay!’
“It hurt me to see the club having a difficult time but I never stopped believing in them. The last few games were really, really tough for me because I was believing but I was worrying, too.
“This club can’t go down to the Championship. When they managed to do it against Crystal Palace, they made me proud. Then, seeing the supporters after the final whistle and seeing what it means to them, it’s a good moment and it just shows how big club this is.
“But now I want to leave those kind of moments and reactions for the successful moments. I want us to be celebrating winning, not staying in the league - it’s a different thing. Last season is done now. It’s a fresh start.”
Gueye re-joined Everton from PSG for an undisclosed fee during the summer transfer window. He put pen-to-paper on a two-year contract having spent three years at the club from 2016-2019, making 108 appearances.
The 33-year-old referred to the Blues as his 'home' in his first comments when he re-joined the club. And now speaking in a bumper matchday programme for Everton’s Premier League clash with Leicester City on Saturday, Gueye has spoken of his joy at returning to Goodison.
He said: “I’m very, very happy to have another opportunity to give my all for this club. I spent three years here and once you are a blue, you are always a blue.
“How can I explain? It’s in my heart and it’s a feeling that will not leave. This club is part of me. It’s hard to find the words but coming back here, the sensation I had was that — like coming home. I had a good period in PSG and I was only ever going to leave for Everton.
“There were other opportunities, but I told my agent to refuse them straight away. It wasn’t in my plan to come back, but, as soon as Everton called me and said they needed me and wanted me to help... I cannot say no. It’s my home, that’s how I feel.
“I can’t say no to Everton, regardless of whether they’re at the top of the league or bottom. It doesn’t matter for me because I care about this club. I’m up for this challenge and I want to help us move up the table.
“I want to bring my experiences from the past three years with me to the team.The reaction I’ve had from the Evertonians has made me very, very proud.
“They just confirmed to me — not that I had any doubts whatsoever — that I made the right decision to come back here. They’ve shown me that I’m part of this family. That’s the most important thing to me: the human beings, the people.”
Pick up a copy of the programme, priced £4, around the ground or, alternatively, click here to order a copy online.
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