PSV director Marcel Brands has hinted outside influences stopped him from being a complete success during his time at Everton.
The Dutchman was hired as the Toffees Director of Football in June 2018, with Everton appointing him to fix the mess left by his predecessor Steve Walsh.
He arrived at Goodison Park with a big reputation following his time at PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar, where he had developed a knack of signing talent on the cheap and selling it for big prices further down the line.
He was unable to replicate his success at Everton, though, with a lack of clear planning on Merseyside, often leading to a mixed and muddled transfer strategy.
That ultimately led to his departure in December last year, with Everton stating that creative differences between Brands, then manager Rafa Benitez and owner Farhad Moshiri as the reason behind his departure.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It is a wonderful country for football, a wonderful club, but very difficult to manage,” he told them.
“Especially because the owners are very involved, which makes them easy to influence. That makes it very difficult sometimes.
“I think more English clubs suffer from that, but I wouldn’t have missed the experience I gained there for anything. Let’s put it this way; of course, we did good things.
“Only that was also the frustration. You don’t get the grip that is needed to really change things.
“We have made steps internally, in the youth academy and with the transfers from the first year.
“But then you see the impatience, and you fall back after having made steps by simple things. That’s a real shame because it’s a beautiful club with beautiful fans.”
