Ashley Williams has been feeling pressure from fans, and letting it get to him, Joey Barton has explained to French newspaper L’Equipe.
As part of an effort to explain, and at least slightly excuse, the Welsh international from blame for his aggression against Lyon, Barton has suggested things all simply got too much.
The Goodison Park night of shame, or whatever description fits best in hindsight, mainly saw Williams as the ‘star’ of the show, at least for the French media. Whilst an Everton fan going into battle holding his young son has overshadowed much of the events, the French media were sure to pinpoint Williams in the aftermath.
And, to be fair, the defender did seem to lose the plot slightly and at one point appeared ready to take on all-comers from Lyon.
Barton has told L’Equipe: “I have often played against him and he isn’t a nervous player, but he’s clearly been affected by the bad results and the treatment that the fans have for him.”
Williams hasn’t especially been a target for the fans, so perhaps something is lost in translation somewhere, with Barton meaning the pressure that was coning from the Goodison Park crowd.
Ahead of the match, L’Equipe have put out their usual predicted teams, which is probably going to be more accurate for the French side than Everton.
