Everton’s striker, Beto, has recently opened up about his need for criticism and “haters” to fuel his motivation, admitting he struggled to adjust during his debut season in the Premier League. The 26-year-old Portuguese forward joined Everton from Serie A side Udinese for £25 million last summer, following a successful season where he scored ten goals.
A Promising Start, But Challenges Ensued
Beto made an immediate impact with the Toffees by scoring on his debut against Doncaster in the Carabao Cup in August. However, his momentum slowed, and he managed only four more goals for the remainder of the season.
“Football is simple,” Beto told BBC Sport when asked about using social media criticism as motivation. “Not everybody is going to love you, and not everybody is going to hate you. For me, it’s OK. Sometimes I like to read my comments when I played badly or missed chances. They will say ‘Beto is [expletive] with missing chances.’ But I like it because I say ‘OK, I will make this guy shut his mouth.'”
Embracing the Critics
Beto explained that he thrives on criticism, using it as fuel to improve his performance. “I take it personally. When I’m in training the next week or the next day, I remember it and I say ‘No, this guy is not going to say this about me anymore’ and I keep going.”
He revealed that he keeps screenshots of negative comments from social media as a reminder to push himself harder. “I have notes. I have screenshots from Facebook, YouTube – when they say something like I’m not good enough or something like that. I say OK, I take a screenshot, I put it on my notes and I read it.”
A Season of Adaptation
Despite making 37 appearances in all competitions, Beto often played a secondary role to first-choice striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with 27 of his appearances coming from the bench. “I need to have competition and I need to have people criticizing me. I need to have haters. I need these kinds of things in my life.”
Beto reflected on his past experiences, drawing parallels to his early career. “When it is just you playing, there is no competition. Sometimes you can chill, you can miss training, and if you miss a chance you know you will play the next game. Competition is different. You need to always be alert.”
From Humble Beginnings to the Premier League
Beto’s journey to the Premier League is a story of perseverance and hard work. He started his career at Portuguese regional side Uniao Tires, working part-time at a fast-food restaurant to make ends meet before progressing to Olimpico Montijo and eventually Primeira Liga side Portimonense in 2019.
The striker candidly discussed the difficulties of adapting from Italy to England. “It was really tough. I don’t think I adjusted well. Now I know the Premier League and what I can do to get better, to create more chances and help the team score more goals.”
Looking Forward
Despite the challenges, Beto is optimistic about the future. Everton’s pre-season training camp in Ireland provided a fresh start, and he impressed during the 3-3 draw against Sligo Rovers. Reflecting on last season’s struggles, Beto said, “Last season was tough mentally and physically. We managed to achieve our objective, so it was good. We went on holiday with free minds, and now we come back fresh and new.”
Everton managed to stay clear of the relegation zone by 14 points despite suffering two separate point deductions totaling eight points under Sean Dyche’s management. Beto’s focus is now on leveraging his experiences to make a more significant impact in the upcoming season.
Conclusion
As Beto gears up for his second season in the Premier League, his resilience and determination to prove his critics wrong remain his driving force. With the lessons learned from his first year in England, Beto is poised to contribute more significantly to Everton’s success and solidify his place in the team.
Beto’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of using criticism constructively. His experiences reflect the challenges many athletes face when adapting to new environments and the mental toughness required to overcome them. As he looks forward to the new season, Beto’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring footballers and a reminder that resilience and hard work can turn adversity into triumph.
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