Yannick Bolasie believes his Everton career could have gone in a different direction had Carlo Ancelotti been in charge at the time of his arrival in 2016.
Signed in a deal worth £25million by Ronald Koeman, Blues supporters had high hopes for the skilful winger on the back of four successful seasons at Crystal Palace.
Featuring in 13 consecutive Premier League matches for Everton, Bolasie's progress then took a tragic turn after suffering an ACL injury during a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in December 2016. Sidelined for over a year as a result, the 33-year-old is adamant he was no longer the same player when the time came to make his return.
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Bolasie racked up 17 appearances in the 2017/18 season before being loaned out in three successive seasons, representing Aston Villa, Anderlecht, Sporting Lisbon and Middlesbrough before leaving the club as a free agent in 2021 to join Turkish side Caykur Rizespor.
Reflecting on the injury that changed the course of his Everton career, the DR Congo international told FourFourTwo: "It's the worst injury a footballer can suffer, especially because at that time I'd hit the ground running - really picking up where I left off at Palace. I was bringing it to Everton and I've always believed that wherever I go, I can do that.
"So, it was devastating to be out for a year. You're never going to be the same after an injury like that. What I'd built up through my youth, my instinctiveness and things like that, gets lost when you sit in your house for a year. It affected me."
Sam Allardyce was the manager at the helm when Bolasie made his comeback appearance in a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day 2016, though the ex-Everton forward has regrets over being rushed back and being denied the chance to work under Ancelotti.
"I'd just come back when Big Sam took charge and I realised that I was lacking my old pace. I put pressure on myself when I shouldn't have. I wanted to help the team and, being the guy I am, I came back a little too early - I hit a brick wall," he conceded.
"Palace came to Everton and I didn't get the opportunity to play against them. I was on the bench and didn't come on - so that hurt. Then Marco Silva became manager in the summer and stayed for almost two years, and Carlo Ancelotti came in after that. I think if I'd been there earlier with Carlo, it would have been different. The stuff he was saying to me privately was good. He knew my ability as a player."
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