Asmir Begovic has come to the defence of Everton teammate Jordan Pickford following criticism from Graeme Souness, who described the England goalkeeper as a “bomb scare.”
Souness, speaking on talkSPORT in January, didn’t hold back in his assessment, labelling Pickford “an accident waiting to happen.”
This week, Begovic was asked on the same platform whether the former Liverpool midfielder had a point. The Bosnian shot-stopper dismissed the comments, saying:
“Oh no. God bless Graeme [Souness]. I think what he says there is quite difficult to take in really.
“I’ve seen him [Pickford] now for three years and work with him on a daily basis and seen his quality, and I can genuinely say he’s world-class.
“I’ve seen it with my own two eyes and work with him and we’ve pushed each other, gained respect and of course, we’re friends now. So I think he’s developed over the years.
“He’s getting to an age now where he’s coming into really his best stage of his career having done what he’s done.”
Pickford’s Value to Everton and England Remains Undeniable:
Despite spending eight years at Goodison Park and earning 70 caps for England, Pickford remains a divisive figure among fans and pundits.
His performances continue to attract criticism, with both Souness and former Liverpool striker John Aldridge voicing doubts over his reliability.
There’s no denying that Pickford has made occasional mistakes. However, his importance to both Everton and the national team cannot be questioned.
He has been a key figure during difficult periods for the Toffees, winning their Player of the Season award three times—a feat not achieved by someone without significant talent.
Moreover, Pickford’s contributions to England’s runs in the European Championships, notably in 2020 and 2024, have solidified his status as a dependable presence between the posts.
While criticism may follow him throughout his career, Pickford has shown resilience, consistently silencing doubters with commanding displays. As Begovic suggested, the 30-year-old appears to be entering his prime, combining experience with quality.
Though public scrutiny is likely to remain a fixture in Pickford’s career, it seems certain that he will, as always, block out the noise and focus on the challenges ahead.