'We'll help him get to the space where he wants to be' - Ange on Richarlison
Richarlison will receive all the help and assistance he requires to get to the mental space he wants to insisted Ange Postecoglou.
Richarlison will receive all the help and assistance he requires to get to the space he wants to insisted Ange Postecoglou.
The 26-year-old cut an emotional figure in the dugout during Brazil's 5-1 win over Bolivia whilst away on international duty, later revealing he is going to seek help from a psychologist in order to come back stronger and find a rhythm for both club and country.
Our number nine has had to overcome various hurdles which have hampered his progress since he joined from Everton last summer, facing a tough time with injuries last term and also citing external off-pitch challenges over the past five months which he said have now been resolved.
"With all the players, they all get the help and assistance they require here," said the Australian, speaking in his press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League encounter with Sheffield United. "It doesn't always happen in the public eye, most of it's done in-house, but we provide all the support and whatever players may need. Sometimes they seek help, sometimes we offer the help so whatever 'Richy' needs we'll help him get to the space where he wants to be.
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"From our perspective, he's put it out there because he was quite emotional after a game; and that's fine, we'll give him the support he needs. But all our players have the help and assistance they require here, I think most professional clubs do, my role within that is to make sure that whatever each player needs - sometimes it's things like help with nutrition, relocating or whatever it may be - that the services and help is there to get players into the place they want to."
While Ange promised to give the forward, and any player in our squad for that matter, all the support required to get to the place he wants to, he also indicated that no one has a perfect life and gave an excellent and poignant response on the topic of mental health.
"What I will say is no one has a perfect life," added the 58-year-old. "Sometimes we look at footballers and they do things well and they have all the money they need and we think that's a perfect life, but that doesn't make you immune from life itself.
"There's always going to be something in your life that isn't where you want it to be; it's about keeping perspective and finding a balance. I have lived 58 years now and there has never been a time in my life where everything is perfect. I lost my father three years ago and he should have been here for the journey, so I have got to deal with it.
"There is always something and footballers are not immune from that. Sometimes I think they fall into the trap to think they are, but they are not. Life will still find a way to keep a balance so there will be stuff in there that will be stressful or upsetting and you've got to deal with that. That's the kind of advice I give to all the players is to keep a balance because you're always going to have something in your life that's probably not where you want it to be."