Iwobi reflects on time at Everton and scoring a goal against them at Goodison Park on Saturday
.Fulham’s Alex Iwobi reckons he was able to trick his former Everton team-mate Jordan Pickford to score on his return to Goodison Park for the last time in a Premier League fixture. Iwobi fired Marco Silva’s side ahead just after the hour mark in a 1-1 draw.
The Nigerian international joined the Blues for £28million in 2019 from Arsenal and scored nine goals in 140 appearances before returning to London in another deadline-day switch to the Cottagers last year.
Speaking to Fulham’s official website after his goal helped the visitors to a point at Goodison Park, the Nigeria international was as respectful as ever when asked a flurry of questions about his former club.
After all, he enjoyed a solid spell on Merseyside, signed by Marco Silva, with his form transformed under Frank Lampard.
Asked about how he felt to score past Jordan Pickford, he replied: ‘It’s a bit of a bittersweet moment but we have to learn from our mistakes.
‘I’m not going to go and fist pump, I have a lot of respect for Everton. It’s nice to score but I had to tame it down because I respected them.’’
Then asked about how it felt to play at Goodison Park for the final time, he gave an emotional reaction: ‘It’s actually kind of sad, I had great times here. It’s a new chapter for them and hopefully, I get to play in that ‘’new stadium.
‘I have memories here and it’s one that I always look back on.’
But this time, Iwobi believes he was able to deceive his ex-team-mate to open the scoring. The 28-year-old said: “The main thing, whether I score or I don’t score, is to try and get the three points. It’s almost like a loss, everyone’s not too happy, but the manager said we should be proud of our performance and try not to stay too down, so we look at the positives and go again.
“Emile (Smith-Rowe) has that ability to take the ball and take the game by the scruff of the neck, and he’s able to drive us up the pitch. When he’s doing that, I’ve just got to make sure I’m an option and when he found me.
“I was trying to get into the box, make a space, and when I got a shot, stay composed. I know Jordan a bit well, and I know that he doesn’t know I like to go near-post, so I was able to get that goal.”