Everton dressing room incident blasted by Sky Sports pundit as Amadou Onana drops Abdoulaye Doucoure ‘disrespect’ verdict
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell does not agree with players being banished from the squad and understands a complaint from Amadou Onana that his Everton teammate Abdoulaye Doucouré was “disrespected”.
The big-money star gave an interview to L’Equipe at the end of the season (30 May) claiming his midfield partner and relegation survival hero had been poorly treated when forced to train with the reserves this season, which happened under former boss Frank Lampard [Daily Mail, 23 January].
Ex-captain Campbell doesn’t feel the punishment for the dressing room incident was proportionate but hailed the Mali international’s “outstanding” resurgence under next manager Sean Dyche.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News the Sky Sports pundit said: “I wasn’t there so I don’t know, but no player wants to see a friend get demoted to the reserves and training with the kids, that’s not good.
“So I understand what [Onana’s] saying.
“Look, I don’t know what happened. I believe it was something that happened in the dressing room where he was defending another player.
“Things are said in the heat of the moment, but the fact that he was demoted weren’t great.
“I don’t agree with stuff like that. You can be dropped, no problem, but I just think the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
“Like I say, I wasn’t there, but I think Doucouré has been outstanding since Sean Dyche has taken over and proven himself.
“He’s proved to be a game-changer for Everton and scored the goal that kept them in the Premier League.
“So I think he’s proven himself to be a really important person in that squad.”
It was a decision that has been proven to be hugely misguided by Lampard, after Doucouré went on to be instrumental in saving Everton from relegation.
The twice-Chelsea manager similarly froze out Marcos Alonso and Antonio Rudiger as the wheels came off his first reign at Stamford Bridge, before both became central again under Thomas Tuchel [Daily Mail and talkSPORT].
So Onana may well be right that the treatment of his colleague was unfair because the former manager has previous for that sort of reaction during difficult times.
And judging by Lampard’s fortunes after his surprise return to Chelsea, compared to the vital lift that Doucouré gave Dyche’s Toffees after the previous manager was sacked, Everton actually came out on top for once.