Merlin Rohl Impresses Against Manchester City After Four-Month Wait
Merlin Rohl used his first start in nearly four months to make a real case at Everton. The 23-year-old was given a run against Manchester City on the right wing and unsettled the title challengers with his pace, then backed that up again on Sunday against Crystal Palace.
David Moyes is still trying to work out where Rohl fits best, but the loan signing from Freiburg has already shown why Everton want him involved more often. The manager said the club signed him with an idea built around his physicality, and the plan now is to find a role that gets him more football next season.
Rohl’s pace changed the shape
Against Manchester City, Rohl was not used as a central midfielder, his natural position. He played wide instead and used his speed to stretch the back line, a reminder that Everton are not yet settled on whether he belongs in the middle or out on the flank.
That uncertainty is part of the story. Rohl had gone nearly four months without a start, then came back into the XI and delivered the kind of display that can alter how a manager thinks about selection. Moyes said Everton are still trying to find the best position for him, and the club’s own view of his physical traits has shaped the search.
Moyes and Baines connection
The relationship with Leighton Baines has become another piece of the picture. Moyes said Rohl is willing to speak, is very communicative, and has a great relationship with Baines. The pair recently went to Goodison Park together to watch Everton Women, another sign of how quickly the German has settled into the club’s daily rhythm.
Rohl’s profile inside training has also stood out. Moyes said he is right up there with Jarrad Branthwaite for top speeds, and described him as so powerful. That combination has helped explain why Everton keep looking for ways to get him on the pitch, even after injuries limited him when the team started quite well.
Everton weigh his next step
Sunday’s outing against Crystal Palace showed both sides of the calculation. Rohl played on the wing again, but he also allowed Tyrick Mitchell space to cross for Palace’s second equaliser. Everton are not dealing with a finished product yet; they are dealing with a player whose pace, power and position remain part of the same puzzle.
The outlook still points upward. Moyes said he is hoping Everton can find a way of getting Rohl more football next season, and that the player will need to be the one who does that. With his loan from Freiburg due to be made permanent this summer, the next step is less about whether he belongs at Everton and more about where he can make the strongest case every week.
