Tarkovsky: I am excited and proud to continue serving Everton and want to play in Europe

October 9th: Everton defender Tarkovsky signed a two-year contract extension with the club. The new contract expires at the end of June 2028. After renewing his contract, the 32-year-old central defender accepted an interview with the club's official media.

Tarkovsky said: "I am extremely excited and proud to be an Everton player and continue this journey. The past few years have been full of ups and downs. We have survived difficult times and will hopefully have more positive and exciting times in the future."

"I think the team has a clear goal at the beginning of this season. With the coach I'm fascinated by every moment I work with him, and he clearly points out the direction of the club. During his tenure, the team's record and performance have continued to improve, and everything is moving on the right track."

"The contract extension is precisely because I am eager to participate in this journey."

Talking about the specialness of Everton fans, Tarkovsky said: "They are a proud and sincere group. You can directly sense their emotions and thoughts, which is exactly in line with my nature."

"Despite the ups and downs, I have fully integrated into the club and enjoyed this time very much. I am fortunate to have many fans." Leading the team as captain for the first time, I feel honored every time I wear the armband. As we all know, Coleman is the real leader of the team, and I am extremely proud to assist him."

Tarkovsky had made 111 consecutive Premier League starts, only two short of Wes Bridge's record, until he suffered a hamstring injury in April this year. Tarkovsky said that he has now fully recovered and is in better condition than before.

He said: "The injury at the end of last season was the first serious injury in my long career, and it took a lot of hard work to recover. But I always pride myself on reliability and hope that I can always be trustworthy."

"Most players have fought with injuries, which is the norm in the profession. Now I am eager to continue my streak. Continue to play record. With rich experience, I know how to perform at my best, not only on match days, but also as a leader at the training base, guiding my teammates and helping the team grow."

"When I left Goodison Park, everyone was full of speculation about the new stadium's current record of two wins and two draws. But in my opinion, the atmosphere at the scene was shocking. It was probably the best atmosphere I've ever experienced. Goodison has certainly had its moments, but the continued frenetic atmosphere at the new stadium every week is amazing. Stepping onto that turf every two weeks is a wonderful experience. "

Looking to the future, Tarkovsky made it clear: "It has always been my wish to compete in European competitions. Having played in the qualifying rounds at Burnley but not in the main draw, I was hungry for a breakthrough. "

"This is the goal of the coach and the mission of the whole team. At present, we have made a solid start. Of course, there is still room for improvement, but we will definitely strive for a spot in the European competition and let European competitions light up our new home stadium. "