'3/10', 'Get a grip' - National media slam Everton outfielder after int'l draw last night

Belgian media have blasted Orel Mangala after what the Everton ace did for Belgium in the 2-2 draw with Italy on Thursday 10 October.

The Belgians clawed back a first-half two-goal deficit courtesy of Andrea Cambiasso and Mateo Retegui with goals from Maxim de Cuyper and Leandro Trossard to salvage a draw at the Stadio Olimpico in the UEFA Nations League.

Mangala struggled to keep pace with the match in Italy and the media back in his native Belgium held nothing back when critiquing the Everton man’s performance.

Belgian outlet Walfoot [10 October] awarded him a low 3/10 rating and wrote a scathing review of his display: “As soon as the Italian midfield combined and accelerated, he did not give the impression of being able to carry such a midfield on his shoulders. As soon as he tried a shot, the Italian public knew that it was a ball given to Donnarumma.”

Voetbal Primeur [10 October] were more lenient, awarding a 5/10 rating, writing: “Mangala had the same story as [Youri] Tielemans. The Italians kept the field small, which meant he couldn’t make an impact. Sandro Tonali proved to be a size too big for the midfielder.”

GVA [10 October] agreed with the 5/10 rating, writing: “Didn’t get a grip on the Italian midfield in the first half. Only came into the match when the Italians were playing with one man less.”

Orel Mangala must come good for Everton

The 26-year-old has been slowly pushing his way to the front of the pecking order at Goodison Park in recent weeks, however, his international outing with Belgium makes for uncomfortable reading for Everton supporters.

Mangala has looked assured in the Blues midfield under Sean Dyche and while suggestions persist his loan spell will all but surely not result in a permanent move at the end of the season due to John Textor’s failed bid to purchase the club, he can still perform a role this year.

The Tim Iroegbunam and Idrissa Gueye experiment failed, the partnership saw four consecutive Premier League defeats and Mangala will be expected to continue gaining regular starts in the middle of the park after the international break.

Dyche has relied on his loanee to settle the midfield and it has worked out well, with the midfielder’s run as a regular starter proving unbeaten in the league thus far.

He has certainly not lit up the Premier League with his performances but that is not expected from his role, the less Mangala is in the headlines for the Toffees the better, and should he complete a permanent move to Fiorentina from Lyon at the end of the season it will be thanks to his performances at Goodison Park.

One bad outing for the national side doesn’t make the player, and on Merseyside, he is set to become an integral player for Dyche.

In other Everton news, Jordan Pickford has been torn to shreds by UK newspapers after a ‘horror’ display in England loss.

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