"Disappointing season for injury-hit Everton", says Pienaar
Johannesburg, 28th May 2010:
After a 5th place finish and FA Cup final appearance in 2008/09, Pienaar believes that Everton must view this past season as a major disappointment. Here he gives us his views on his third season at Goodison Park.
Would you rate 2009/10 your best season from a personal perspective?
Steven: „As an Everton player, I think so. But my best season ever was 2002/2003 with Ajax Amsterdam, when we were knocked out of the Champions League by AC Milan in the last minute of the second leg. And I had scored a goal...“
Who was your Everton Player of the Year and why?
Steven: „Leighton Baines - because of his consistancy.“
What were Everton’s high and low points of 2009/10?
Steven: „As I explained before, the beginning of the season was the lowest, especially when we lost 6-1 against Arsenal. And our high point was that we came back from that, ending with eight wins at home.“
Why can Everton beat the top teams but then lose points to teams near the bottom of the table?
Steven: „Well, it could be a motivational issue but it's not - no player from any team needs motivation to confront the biggest squads. What I felt is that smaller teams tend to play more defensively against us and it makes you more difficult to win. That's the real secret why we dropped points.“
Was 2009/10 a success or failure for Everton and why?
Steven: „I think it's been a failure. We didn't start fresh at the beginning of the season due to injury problems and we suffered from that throughout the season. At the end we didn't qualify for Europe and that's why I reckon this year has to be considered as a failure.“
What was Everton’s strength and weakness of the past season?
Steven: „The weaknesses were the injuries and the cheap goals conceded. The strength was that we were brave enough to play attacking football against the most feared opposition.“
Who did you vote for as the Premiership Player of the Year?
Steven: „Wayne Rooney.“
What would have been your Premiership Best XI for 2009/10? Hart?
Steven: „Hart, G. Johnson, Vermaelen, Dawson, Baines; Modric, Fabregas, Palacios, Malouda; Rooney, Drogba.“
What was your most memorable game that you watched in 2009/10?
Steven: „On a personal note, that would have been our draw against Arsenal at the Emirates when I scored that great goal. But if we talk in general terms, it definitely was Lionel Messi's exhibition against the Gunners in the second leg of the Champions League last 16. Four goals for him in a total masterpiece.“
In the past season, who would you have paid money to have gone to watch?
Steven: „FC Barcelona in any game at home.“
