In a controversial incident during a match in 2015, Everton's Kevin Mirallas took a penalty from Leighton Baines, leading to criticism after he missed. Mirallas explained his confidence from recent success but acknowledged that a missed penalty amplified scrutiny. Despite the backlash, he maintained that the decision was agreed upon before the game, and following the event, he remained part of the starting lineup for subsequent matches. The event highlighted differing interpretations of team dynamics, with some like Gary Neville condemning Mirallas's actions while others downplayed the incident.
"It was just part of football, but people didn't understand what happened. I had scored against West Ham a few days before, and my confidence was high."
"Before the game, I asked Leighton if I could take a penalty if we got one, and he agreed. If I'd scored, nobody would have mentioned it."
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