Jordan Pickford has revealed his pride at being named Everton captain for the first time and explained how his increasing maturity has helped his rise as a leader.
The 28-year-old led the Blues when they travelled to Burnley last month. It was the first time in his career he had worn the captain's armband and an experience he recalled as a "nice moment".
It was a significant reward for Pickford, who has been at the top of his game for club and country for 18 months - a period he says has coincided with his own emotional growth.
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Recalling the experience of captaining the Blues, Pickford said: ““It was good. It was the first time captaining the club and first time being captain in my career, so it was a nice moment. I always say you need more than one captain in the team; Seamus [Coleman] is the club captain but you need leaders to help Seamus [who was a substitute at Turf Moor], you need leaders to help the team. If you had 11 leaders on the pitch, it would be amazing but you’ve got to lead in your own way.
"I feel like I try to be a leader in my way. Sometimes it looks like I’m shouting ridiculously but it’s that talking and information and trying to lead in that manner. The more leaders you have in the team, the better."
Pickford believes his actions on the pitch are often misinterpreted - that when it appears as though he may have lost control of his emotions he is instead working hard to communicate with his team-mates and give out instructions.
He says he has learned the ability to maintain calm and focus on the situation in front of him, adding: “I am calm. The tough thing for me is the atmosphere is good, in every game it is very loud home and away. I am trying to get messages on to tell my team-mates, so it looks like I am screaming but I am actually trying to help get a good message across to help the lads out.
"As a goalkeeper you can see the whole pitch, so I am actually trying to help my team-mates out. When it comes to my decision-making I am a lot calmer but the animation and shouting and balling, it is not crazy stuff I am saying... I am trying to give my team-mates information about what is going on in front of me."
His calmness was most vivid following his extraordinary save from Cesar Azpilicueta in the 1-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend. While the Goodison Park crowd roared in appreciation, he composed himself to make a second sensational stop, from Antonio Rudiger, just seconds later.
Pickford said: "You have to be in the moment. I know I like to be revved up but it is about keeping that emotion with a level head. I want to be Jordan Pickford and who I am, but I want to be a calm figure which I feel like I have been for the last 18 months."
As the players walked out on Sunday, a banner declaring Pickford as England's number one was unfurled in the Gwladys Street end - a gesture he said had "touched" him. Frank Lampard has recently suggested Pickford's role for England means he faces additional speculation and scrutiny.
Pickford himself said: “I think being England’s number one - and the manager pointed this out - means that is always going to be happening. That has happened longer than I have been alive. It is part of being an England international and how you adapt to those situations."
Pickford has worked hard to cancel out the noise around his life - both on and off the field - in recent years. He explained: “You have to have a radar of what you are doing. You’re England number one, you have got added responsibilities."
And he has spoken openly about how a psychologist has helped him develop, adding: "I felt that's been a massive part of learning about myself a bit more and maturing."
Amid Everton's recent struggles, speculation has intensified around his future should the club go down. But for Pickford, there is only one thing currently on his mind - leading the Blues to safety. He said: “I haven’t really given that any thought [about his future]. That would be a distraction. It is about giving my sole focus on each individual game. We have five finals now. Five games to get points from. Every game is tough so it is all about putting five great performances in.”
