- Jordan Pickford surpassed Rio Ferdinand with his 82nd cap for the English national team
- Jordan Pickford has recorded 11 clean sheets in the Premier League this season
The former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann questions Jordan Pickford’s celebrations – but Everton fans love his passion has questioned Pickford’s “passion” and celebrations, but the Everton faithful are having none of it.
Jens Lehmann has never been one to shy away from a controversial opinion, but his latest targets are Jordan Pickford and the art of the celebration.
Jordan Pickford has been outstanding for Everton this season. The England number one has the highest goals prevented in the Premier League. The English goalkeeper recently kept his 100th clean sheet for the club in the 3-0 win over Chelsea. He has been pulling off extraordinary saves and playing a major role in Everton’s push for European football.
But not everyone is a fan of how Jordan Pickford reacts after making those saves. Arsenal Invincible Jens Lehmann has questioned the Everton goalkeeper’s habit of celebrating during matches. Well, that criticism feels very old-school.
Lehmann: ‘Focus on the next ball’
On the Clutch 9 Football YouTube channel, a host raised the issue with Lehmann. “Can I touch quickly on Jordan Pickford. We’ve got Jens here, I bet you never celebrated Jens when you made a save. Do you know what I mean? I have a real thing, the way he celebrates and all that.”
Lehmann replied: “Yeah it’s not only him, it’s other keepers. I celebrated at the end of the game. On corners sometimes, keepers make great saves and the next corner, boom, goal, so where is your celebration now? Focus on the next ball, it’s about defending it. It’s not just goalkeepers, defenders as well.”
The German’s point is that celebrating can lead to lapses in concentration. It is a rather strict, old‑school stance from a goalkeeper who played in a very different era.
Why Jordan Pickford should ignore the criticism
Jordan Pickford is regularly seen releasing his emotions after a great save. It is something he has long done. He has a big personality, and it has never really gotten him into trouble. If anything, it shows the passion he has for his skill. It is a momentary release, before he becomes fully focused again.
There was one instance recently, against Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Pickford made a save, gave a little celebration while the ball was still in play, and the attack continued. But even then, Pickford was ready for the ball to come back into the box. The attack fizzled out.
Pickford’s own mentality is clear. When asked about personal milestones, he said: “There are goals – but we know the main goal and it’s a team game. I’ve always said, I don’t even care if I concede four goals, as long as we win 5-4. It’s a team game and I want to win matches.”
In the world of punditry, it’s easy to pick holes in a player’s personality when the results aren’t perfect. But for Sean Dyche and the Everton faithful, Pickford’s “fire” is exactly what has kept the Blues competitive.
Lehmann might prefer the silent type, but on Merseyside they prefer their heroes to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Jordan Pickford isn’t going to change for a critic in the commentary box and Everton fans wouldn’t want him to.
If celebrating his saves helps Jordan Pickford maintain the level that has made him Everton’s all‑time great in the modern era, with 11 clean sheets this season, 100 for the club and 82 England caps, then he should absolutely take no notice of Jens Lehmann. Everton fans certainly won’t mind. Passion like that is what Everton is built on.
