Bernard on relaxing into life at Everton and gaining 'perfect platform' for Liverpool derby

Sport360 staff 22:34 23/11/2018
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  • I’m really enjoying playing for Everton and really grateful for the way everyone has welcomed and received me into the football club.

    I’m 10 matches into my career with the Blues and happy with the way I have adapted in a new country and a new league.

    I’m still getting to know my team-mates, but it really helps when you are in a group like this. I’m really happy to spend time with them all and the people at the club, and this has meant on the pitch I am more relaxed.

    I think I have improved a lot since I arrived and training within the squad I am in, it allows me to do so every day.

    To have confidence in your game, you need to get up to speed mentally, too, as five months away from the pitch, which I had, is a long time. The run of games I have had has helped and what I can say is that I don’t lack the dedication to reach 100 per cent.

    I am also enjoying discovering more about Liverpool as a city. When I first joined, I was staying in a hotel which allowed me the chance to explore and visit different restaurants.

    From what I’ve seen, it’s a beautiful area and both my friends and family really like the city.

    The Premier League is different to what I experienced before in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk. When I came here at the start I was watching training, watching games and seeing what I needed to do to improve.

    Now I feel good – the team is on a great run. The fact that we are on this run – we have won four and drawn one of our past six Premier League matches – is important and we will keep trying to get better.

    We have continued to improve under the coaching of our manager Marco Silva – I chose to join Everton because of all the things I had heard about Marco Silva and after speaking to him at the time I was happy with what he said to me.

    This Saturday we are back at Goodison Park playing Cardiff City, after we earned point at Chelsea before the international fixtures. Every game has different situations and different scenarios and we are happy that we have beaten Fulham, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion in our past three home matches.

    Cardiff have their qualities and we need to respect them on Saturday. They are a team that defend well and are physically strong.

    It will be a hard game, but we take confidence from our good form. We will be looking to get the three points, which would be the perfect platform ahead of next weekend’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool – a match I am really looking forward to.

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