Calvert-Lewin: Everton pressure pushed me to my lowest point
Emotional weight of the badge
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's conversation on the High Performance Podcast offered more than insight into elite football. It revealed the raw underside of responsibility, mental pressure and what it means to wear the number nine shirt for Everton during its most turbulent era.
'People obviously forget that probably in Everton's history, the last 3 years, the points deductions, relegation battles, has been the toughest,' Calvert-Lewin said. His voice throughout the interview was not that of a player looking for sympathy, but one seeking understanding.
Pressure in isolation
The Everton striker described the emotional breaking point that occurred away from the pitch. 'That was a low point for me because I ended up crying. You know, I was on my own on my birthday crying on my bedroom floor.' That moment came weeks before he scored the goal that kept Everton in the Premier League.
Photo IMAGO
He described that goal against Crystal Palace as 'just like a relief. Biggest relief ever.' But it was not just a professional reprieve; it was personal salvation. 'I put that responsibility on my shoulders, you know. I kind of like thought it's my responsibility to save everybody, save people's jobs.'
Misunderstood in the spotlight
One of the most compelling themes in the interview was Calvert-Lewin's regret at how some of his public moments were misunderstood. 'I phrased it in that talking saved my life… and I regretted it because talking changed my life,' he admitted, explaining how the media misinterpreted a deeply personal post.
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This was not a cry for help, he emphasised. It was an effort to help others. 'I wanted to show emotion to help kids… help the next generation to know that I've been through a difficult journey and I've still come out on top.'
Footballer and human
The Everton striker repeatedly stressed that behind the professional façade was a human being dealing with layers of pressure. 'You know, he's got loads of money, drives whatever, plays in the Premier League, everything's great… but I also have problems.'
Photo IMAGO
The mental toll of repeated injuries left him questioning everything. 'I started to make the wrong decision. I need to not be in my head. I need to be in my body and trust that my body knows what to do.'
Calvert-Lewin's conversation, shared candidly with podcast hosts Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, was a reminder of the unseen battle athletes face. 'I've never heard a stadium erupt like it in my life,' he said, recalling the aftermath of that goal. Yet, it was what came before — the tears, the pain, the isolation—that made the eruption mean something more.
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