‘I am not here because of him, it’s a wrong picture’ — Norwich boos reveals why he keeps benching Billy Gilmour
Billy Gilmour’s loan spell has taken a different turn as Norwich boss Daniel Farke has not started him since their EFL Cup defeat to Liverpool in September.
Farke has insisted that he isn’t here to please Chelsea or Manchester United as he has also opted against playing United youngster Brandon Williams.
“Big clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea don’t want it easy for their players,” said Farke.
“If they want to be Manchester United, Chelsea or Tottenham players one day, then they need to make sure that they face this challenge and step up to this challenge.
“For that there is no extra pressure. I am not here to please Manchester United or Chelsea, or Tottenham last season, I am just here to win points for Norwich City
“It’s not about Billy Gilmour or Brandon Williams, or Kenny McLean or Teemu Pukki who are our players, we just like to play with the players to help us to win points.
“This is the challenge that, for example, our loan players want to have. It is not a gift that we play them because we have loaned them and they want to play many games.”
Asked specifically about Gilmour’s situation, Farke hailed the quality of the Chelsea midfielder and said external issues had led to his decreased game time.
Farke continues: “It’s the wrong picture of what he has done. Yes, he was not in the Burnley game or at Everton but, to be honest, he had a difficult pre-season.
“He came later due to his Covid situation and due to the Euros. He played in the first six games more minutes than any other midfield player for us.
“The first time he was out was for Arsenal because he had played three games for his country and I had to look after this guy a bit.
“Billy is a fantastic player and we are all glad that we have him, he has already many minutes under his belt and I am pretty sure that he will add many minutes under his belt during the season.”
However, Gilmour was an unused substitute in Norwich’s goalless draw with Brighton over the weekend.