Why yoga hasn't sent Tim Cahill soft

Sep 27 2008

HE may have turned to yoga to escape the Premier League pressure-cooker, but Tim Cahill is still intent on throwing some punches at Goodison this afternoon.

The Australian will seek to continue his fine derby form when Liverpool visit for the 208th running of English football’s most famous local spat.

Cahill’s all-action style and happy knack of scoring has shown no sign of abating since his return from injury earlier this month, the 28-year-old netting in successive Premier League games at Stoke City and Hull City.

But it’s a surprisingly sedate regime that has allowed the midfielder to immediately prosper on his return.

“I’ve been doing yoga and pilates of an evening, anything to help, and I’ve enjoyed learning about my injury and how to get fit,” says Cahill.

“I’ve been doing yoga for about three months and pilates for 18 months. People might think that’s a bit radical but you have to switch off outside of football.

“It helps me relax and loosen my body up before I go out to train. I’ve started doing it at home as well. I try and do it every day.

“We have a regime at Everton now where Danny (Donachie, son of former Goodison player Willie) works with us individually on matters on and off the pitch.

“A big part of football nowadays is the mental aspect. It is not all about technique. It’s about how we overcome losing to Blackburn in the cup or drawing with Hull, and we know if we beat Liverpool all that will be forgotten.”

Cahill has scored in three derbies since his arrival four years ago, and Evertonians would welcome another repeat of the trademark sight of the midfielder pummelling the corner flag with his fists in celebration.

And Cahill has explained the origins of this forceful goal salute.

“It came from Archie Thompson, the Australia striker, who did something similar when he had a baby boy called Axel,” he says. “I had a boy as well and incorporated it as a celebration for our kids.

“It’s a bit of fun between us but now it’s also become a trademark from the World Cup and a trademark in Australia and there are little kids everywhere doing it.

“We based it on the Nintendo Wii. Archie had a kung-fu celebration and I just spiced it up a bit.”

The yoga has formed part of a reappraisal of Cahill’s lifestyle which has also included moving house away from Liverpool. And the Australian reckons his game can only benefit from the change.

“One of the best things I did was to move away from football, just concentrate on my family and my kids, and just come in and out of it when I need to be,” says Cahill.

“My problem was I was too enthused in it all. I slept, ate and breathed football and there was no outlet.

“Liverpool’s a beautiful city with beautiful people but I needed something different. I needed to be able to switch off and be able to go down the park with my kids without having to listen to an adverse comment.

“I still always go out for dinner in Liverpool and see the lads here but I needed a release from football. I can relax now without worrying about people saying I’m crap.”

Cahill was sidelined since suffered a metatarsal injury in March, a recurring problem that has hampered him for 18 months and ruled him out of both of last season’s derby matches.

And despite the prospect of a fifth game in a fortnight after so long on the sidelines, he says: “I feel really good. The biggest thing was getting as fit as possible and giving the gaffer the option of putting me straight back in. Even now I’m still having physio in the evening and I stay back late afterwards to make myself 100%.

“In the past I feel I’ve played at 70-80% and that hasn’t helped my body whereas now I’m going into the game really fresh and believing I can add a different dimension to the team.”

Of today’s game, Cahill adds: “Beating Liverpool would be the ideal lift and that is the only way we can look at it. That’s the beauty of this game. The seriousness of this game goes beyond football, it goes into peoples’ livelihoods.

“I lived in Liverpool for four years so I understand what it’s like to walk down the street to get a carton of milk after a derby. And your friends and family have to put up with it as well.

“I get loads of banter, especially from the Liverpool fans, but it’s a compliment when you get a bit of bitterness because it shows you’re a threat and I’ve had a habit of scoring against Liverpool a few times.

“It’s all about passion. Players like Alan Stubbs, Duncan Ferguson and Tony Hibbert, players who really know what it is like to be a blue, really helped me understand when I first came to the club. You can’t just play in a derby. You have to know what goes on and now I’m passing that on to Fellaini, Castillo and Saha.”

“They’ve had derby matches before, but this is a whole different experience.

“Liverpool are fortunate enough to have hundreds of millions to spend but this is the day when we can bask in the glory of a win and that does help you for the rest of the season.

“Achievements like our 3-0 win, even the 1-0 win when Lee Carsley scored, you never forget.

“We don’t put more importance on this game but they are more important because of what they mean to people.”