Everton skipper admits he would have struggled to cope with all the pressure at Goodison Park if he was younger.
Tarkowski joined on a free from in 2022 and his Blues career has been dogged by relegation fights, points deductions and financial trouble. The former England centre-half admits it has been the most testing time of his career and the 31-year-old shudders to think how he would have handled everything if he had been younger.
Better times lie ahead with Dan Friedkin’s takeover due to be completed in December ahead of the club’s move to their new Bramley Moore Dock home next August.
“I love playing here, I really do,” said Tarkowski. “The stadium, the history, the fans, the support we get. Getting to wear the shirt week-in, week-out, I’ve loved it.
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“It’s been testing, it’s been the most testing time of my career in terms of issues in and around the football club and it feels like it’s been one after another for a while. Honestly, I think if I was younger, I think I would have struggled because I know that can be difficult.
“It’s really not easy to deal with it and play under it. But, where I am now, I really enjoy it. Even when we’ve been in pressure situations here, I’m putting as much pressure on myself as anybody else is.
“You want to thrive under that. The expectations at this football club rightly are high. The history of what Everton is there for everyone to see and success is what people expect.
“I’m very understanding of how the past few years must have been for people who have followed this club their whole lives. This is probably one of the worst positions the club has been in for a while, but hopefully now we’re coming out the other side and we can look forward again.”
Everton appear to have turned the corner and in addition to Friedkin’s takeover, they have taken five points from their last three games, including registering their first clean sheet against , to move clear of the drop zone. Their injured players are returning and England centre-half Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko will return after the international break.
“Jarrad is getting back up to full fitness after a tough time out,” Tarkowski told the Everton matchday programme. “That’s a massive plus for us because he was one of our most important players last season.
“I’ve always said competition is the most important thing in any squad. If you’ve got an 11 that picks itself, it’s never ideal because people can get comfortable. It’s hugely important to have that feeling of fighting for your spot and staying consistent with your levels.”
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