He is the unsung midfielder who makes Everton tick, a player who has become key to Ronald Koeman's plans at Goodison Park, but Idrissa Gueye continues to fly under the radar among the Premier League's star names.

Ahead of Saturday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool, ESPN FC caught up with the Senegal international to talk about his time in England, how his stats outshine those of Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante and to find out why he threatened to kill close friend, and Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane.

ESPN FC: Everton have lost a number of players to injury during the international break -- such as Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy and Ramiro Funes Mori -- so how much of a challenge will it be to win the next two games, against Liverpool and Manchester United?

IDRISSA GUEYE: "We have one or two out through injury, but I am fine thankfully. We have a big squad and we are a solid unit, so those of us who are fit will make sure we are prepared physically and mentally.

"But they are two massive games and we have to do our best to try and manage those. It is a big challenge and we know it won't be easy, but we have to do the best we can, starting on Saturday."

ESPN FC: Everton go into the weekend six points adrift of the top four. Can you close the gap and qualify for the Champions League this season?

IG: "Everything is possible. It is all about judging the season when it ends, but we have to believe in ourselves and if we do that, we can attain our objectives.

"We are not looking at a finishing position, we are just aiming to win every game. That isn't an easy thing to do, but to achieve what we want to and finish as high as we can, we have to target a win in every game."

ESPN FC: You were relegated with Aston Villa last season. How much easier has it been to play in a winning team at Everton?

IG: "On the mental side, it is tougher at the wrong end of the table. It can be soul-destroying.

"You still give 200 percent in every game, same as I do here at Everton, because it is all about working hard in every match. But in a season when you only manage to win three matches, it gets tough.

"You can never give in or throw in the towel. You continue to work hard, but it was a tough year. But working hard through that tough year is one of the reasons why I was able to come through it and get a move here to Everton. I have enjoyed a better season here, certainly."

ESPN FC: You are currently top of the Premier League table for tackles this season with 104, three ahead of Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, and have committed fewer fouls. How do you view the comparisons with him?

IG: "I know he is a good player, a really good player. What he achieved with Leicester last season, winning the title, was amazing and he is doing really well again this season with Chelsea.

"I would say he is a model in that position, a real example to follow, but he remains N'Golo and I remain Idrissa."

ESPN FC: The pair of you have been compared to Claude Makelele because of the role you play. How do you view your role on the pitch?

IG: "I just consider myself a player like anybody else -- I do my job, get the ball back and give it to somebody else to get the team playing. But there is a tendency now for clubs to look out and try to acquire these players more than they did in the past.

"There are a few of us around in that style. Makelele is the one that people remember because he excelled in that role for Chelsea, Real Madrid and France.

"What did he do? He won the ball back superbly well and got the team playing -- around that time Gennaro Gattuso also used to do that well for Milan and Italy -- but I just see my role as part of the game."

ESPN FC: Are you and Kante destroyers or creators?

IG: "It is hard to put into words, but I just see it as playing football. You try to do your job and I try to get as many touches as I can to keep the ball moving.

"In that way, you want to create as many problems as you can and make life difficult for the opposition, but it's simple really -- if we don't have the ball, we have to get it back and that's part of the game."

ESPN FC: Is it true that, when you were signing for Villa, you were on the same flight to England as Kante, who was on his way to sign for Leicester the same day?

IG: "Yes, it's true. He is a top lad, a really nice guy. He is quite shy, but we chatted a bit on the flight and wished each other all the best for the season.

"We were both excited by the challenge ahead, but how it goes is sometimes in the lap of the gods and purely destiny. Each player has his career path mapped out. We didn't talk specifically about the season in front of us, but we were both aware of the positions each club had found themselves in during the previous year."

ESPN FC: At the time, you probably believed you were getting the better move because of Villa's size and tradition?

IG: "I was probably joining a bigger club because of the history of Aston Villa, but it is weird how things work out. It was a massive moment for both of us on that plane, though, because we were both realising huge ambitions to play in the Premier League, the league we had both grown up dreaming of playing in.

"It was a great career moment and I am really happy that things turned out so well for N'Golo but obviously very disappointed that my season at Villa wasn't quite so good as his at Leicester.

"But now I am really grateful that fate has lent a hand and helped take me to Everton, where things have gone really well. I am very happy here."

ESPN FC: You will go up against Sadio Mane on Saturday, your Senegal teammate. You are friends off the pitch, so how has this week been between you?

IG: "He is a good mate of mine and a great player. He is usually my friend, but for this week he is an enemy. We are not talking between now and the game. We will talk after the game, but hopefully I can get one over him before we speak again and then be able to give him some stick.

"We do go round to each other's houses from time to time and spend a lot of time together on international duty. When we have time, we will meet up. He only lives nine minutes away. I know it is nine minutes because that's what it says on the SatNav!"

ESPN FC: But despite your friendship, is it true that you threatened to kill him during the African Nations Cup earlier this year?

IG: "In a joking way, yes! After a game, I had said that, for the moment, we would let him off for not defending as much as he should because he was scoring so many goals. But the moment we don't win, because he is not defending, then is when I will kill him!

"We are friends, though, and I am looking forward to playing against him on Saturday. But it is important that I am on the winning side."

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by MARK OGDEN, SENIOR FOOTBALL WRITER

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