Andy Huntertalks to Everton's Tim Cahill who has battled back to fitness in time for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park today
TIM CAHILL has moved out of Liverpool and taken up yoga to handle the pressures of his football-obsessed environment this year, but he accepts that there is no escape from the magnitude of the 208th Merseyside derby. Nor does the Australian international seek one.
Everton's season could flourish or flat-line in the coming week, with Liverpool's visit to Goodison Park followed by Thursday's ominous second date at Standard Liege in the Uefa Cup first round.
Defeat at Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup prompted Joleon Lescott to issue a public apology to the fans who booed off David Moyes's team at Ewood Park and the manager's fears about assembling a team so late in the transfer window are being borne out with every meagre display.
With seven games gone and 14 goals conceded, Everton still await their first clean sheet of a faltering campaign. No way to be facing unbeaten local rivals or no better opportunity to dispel the despondency. Cahill, a supreme optimist with or without breath control, has no doubt.
"Beating Liverpool would be the ideal lift and that is the only way we can look at it. That's the beauty of this game," said Cahill, who has scored twice since his premature return from injury to re-emphasise his value to Everton.
"The seriousness of this game goes beyond football, it goes into people's livelihoods. I lived in Liverpool for four years so I understand what it's like to walk down the street to get a carton of milk after a derby. I get loads of banter, especially from the Liverpool fans, but it's a compliment when you get a bit of bitterness because it shows you're a threat and I've had a habit of scoring against Liverpool a few times. It's all about passion."
The 28-year-old understands the criticism at Ewood but insists it is a question of when, not if, last season's fifth-placed side gel with new signings such as the €19-million Marouane Fellaini.
It is the constant search for answers in a divided football city, however, that led to Cahill moving his young family to leafier climes.
He admits: "One of the best things I did was to move away from football and just to concentrate on my family and my kids. My problem was I was too enthused in it all. I slept, ate and breathed football and there was no outlet. Liverpool's a beautiful city with beautiful people but I needed to be able to switch off and go down the park with my kids without having to listen to an adverse comment. I still always go out for dinner in Liverpool and see the lads here, but I needed a release from football. I can relax now without worrying about people saying I'm crap."
Cahill's relocation was out of choice, but it was necessary for the Everton midfielder to change his training routine, relaxation techniques and even his running style, having fractured the same metatarsal three times in 12 months. The Australian underwent revolutionary surgery in Sydney in April, after visiting specialists in London, Manchester and the Netherlands, but credits working with Danny Donnachie - Everton's well-being and performance coach, and son of the former Scotland international Willie - for ensuring no psychological scars survived the repeat injury.
"I've changed the way I run, my footwear, the insoles, all sorts, and I've been doing yoga and Pilates of an evening, anything to help," adds Cahill. "People might think that's a bit radical but you have to switch off outside of football. We have a regime at Everton now where Danny works with us individually on matters on and off the pitch. A big part of football nowadays is the mental aspect. It is not all about technique. It's about how we overcome losing to Blackburn in the cup or drawing with Hull, and we know if we beat Liverpool all that will be forgotten."
One constant in Cahill's repertoire is his goal celebration of trading punches with the corner flag, an idea that originated with an international team-mate, Archie Thompson, and, thanks to Cahill becoming the first Australian to score at a World Cup finals, is now replicated throughout Australia.
"We both had baby boys around the same time and it is a celebration for our kids," Cahill explains. "We based it on the Nintendo Wii. Archie had a kung-fu celebration and I just spiced it up a little bit. It would be nice to do it more than once against Liverpool."
Guardian Service
