Europa League - Managers: Moyes remains upbeat

Eurosport - Fri, 06 Nov 09:16:00 2009

Everton manager David Moyes remains upbeat about the Toffees' chances of qualifying from the Europa League group stage despite a second defeat to Benfica.

2009-10 Premier League Everton David Moyes - 0

Everton 0-2 Benfica

David Moyes: "I would like to think (Everton will progress). There are some tough games coming up but we never thought the group would be easy. This is a long competition with lots of teams in it and others coming in later.

"Benfica broke quickly and the goals were not like the ones in the first game. It was a tighter match this time. They were not beautiful goals but poor from a defensive point of view. We became a little bit open in the second half as we tried to score.

"We lacked a bit of quality going forward and that did not help us but Benfica are a good side."

Roma 2-1 Fulham

Roy Hodgson: "We thought it (the dismissal of Erik Nevland) was an unbelievably harsh decision, it certainly changed the nature of the game.

"We had pretty much been in control up until that point. I'm very satisfied with the team's performance, we gave an excellent account of ourselves.

"But with the refereeing decision going against you, it's very difficult to get a result in games like this."

Hamburg 0-0 Celtic

Tony Mowbray: "We will try and get the points which are in front of us, and what will be will be.

"Every other game doesn't seem to be as close - there has been a 5-1 and a 3-0 - but regarding the group, we have two matches left and we have to take maximum points. That has got to be our focus at the moment.

"Obviously we have to look at the league games, but when the European games come along we have to try and take maximum points and see if that is enough.

"It was a frustrating performance again. We should have come in at half-time 2-0 up. We had a couple of clear-cut chances that didn't go in.

"The Europe campaign has been like that this season. It has been very tight, and things haven't fallen our way.

"We could easily have been sitting here saying that we won. That's the fine margins in football."

Eurosport

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  1. hameeduel, you should look at the facts. Fulham put­ their best possible team out yesterday and have done­ throughout most of the tournament. We realise that we­ punched above our weight last season and don't want­ to follow the likes of Ipswich who concentrated on­ their european exploits and ended up being relegated­ and where they are now. We aren't a particularly­ big club and don't have a massive squad, so then­ there's even mmore emphasis on squad rotation - as­ no outfield player can play 55-60 games in a season.

    From Baz, on Fri 6 Nov 1:38PM

  2. I have been an Everton supporter since 1966 and I­ thought our display against Benfica over the two legs­ exemplified the huge gulf that exists in the skill­ factor in football. A good footballing side will defend­ well, find space and use their better players to punch­ holes in the oppoenent's defences. Benfica played­ some great football but in the past Everton would have­ coped with their attack through determination and grit­ but last night I thought we were poor. This season our­ small squad has been our downfall and the lack of true­ skill in the midfield because of injuries has meant­ that our play has been downright ordinary. It proves­ that in modern football if you do not have the funds­ and use what money you have inappropriately then you­ cannot compete effectively.

    From WILLIAM, on Fri 6 Nov 12:05PM

  3. kenneth - you are an idiot !!!!!! - the supporters of­ Everton do more than just appreciate David Moyes - we­ love him - David Moyes is doing a brilliant job and is­ in the top 3 best managers in the uk - injuries have­ plagued the mighty toffee's all season - but we­ just get on with it - put out a squad and play to our­ best abilities - the corner will be turned as soon as­ we get a few more injured players back

    From exhi_siangaines, on Fri 6 Nov 11:37AM

  4. I still dont understand the logic behind teams like­ everton, aston-villa, tottenham, fulham would be eager­ to qualify for Europe or the top four. When they­ eventually qualify for europe, they wont take it­ seriously. They will field a weakened team because they­ are fighting for survival in the premiership. Everton­ has a small squad. When everton qualified for europa­ league, the team should have been strenghtened. Apart­ from Middlesborough who got to the final of uefa cup­ and man-city who gave it a real go, other teams like­ everton, aston-villa, tottenham and fulham should cover­ their faces in shame.
    Clubs all over the world­ respects the premier league as the strongest league and­ fears its team because of achievements of man utd,­ chelsea, liverpool and arsenal in the champions league­ all these years. Whenever, a team like benfica(which is­ not the strongest team in portugal), beats everton home­ and away, it is a dent on the premiership.
    Last season,­ tottenham and aston-villa couldnt field a strong team­ in europe and they disgraced themsleves, how they would­ cope if they qualify for the champions league, i dont­ know.

    From hameeduel, on Fri 6 Nov 11:33AM

  5. surely it's just a matter of time before a bigger­ and better club tries to tempt Moyes away from­ Everton! he has done a great job at Everton fc ­ under the curcumstances and he deserves to be­ involved with a club who's supporters will­ appreciate him!!

    From Kenneth, on Fri 6 Nov 10:53AM

  6. Have to agree with Comments 6 & 7. With Neill,­ Heittinga, Jagielka, Neville, Arteta, Pienaar, Osman,­ Saha all ineligible or injured, consolidation is the­ key. It's not impossible (based on the home form in­ the draws with Stoke, Wolves & Villa) that we could­ get nothing at all from the next 4 Premiership games­ (albeit you'd hope for something at Hull, West Ham­ and the derby). 3 points might actually be a decent­ return with the squad as it is. We probably needto be­ thinking 'season starts properly around­ Christmas' when, hopefully, the docs, physios and­ other back-room guys have helped some of the first­ choice squad back to Premiership fitness. Keep the­ faith. Moyesy knows best!

    From Chris, on Fri 6 Nov 10:51AM

  7. FOOTBALL IN THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL....REST IN PEACE!!!

    From Rusty, on Fri 6 Nov 10:42AM

  8. moyse'y does not need money,the guy could get a­ bloody horse to play football,thats not the case he­ needs his first team fit again then we will qualify for­ sure dont spend more its just unfortunate that so many­ are injured at the same time.we will come through­ COYB.....................well done david keep them­ going!!

    From goodison 1, on Fri 6 Nov 10:37AM

  9. Being a lifetime Everton fan, this season in my­ opinion, is a season better spent concentrating on­ Premiership survival instead of Europe. The mounting­ injuries together with the lack of cash leave us in­ that awful position of trying to keep our head above­ water with little flotation.

    Sometimes with three­ games in a short period the small squad just cannot be­ expected to recover quickly enough as people­ expect.

    Everton are a great club but they're not­ able to perform miracles. David Moyes is probably one­ of the best managers in the UK but not a magician.

    From robbierobinson1951, on Fri 6 Nov 10:18AM

  10. I believe Everton will qualify for the later stages­ another 3 points should do it.
    Moyes could be the best­ manager Everton have ever had but it is important to­ note he has had very little money to play with.

    From rblackhurst2004, on Fri 6 Nov 9:57AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    GadgetsNCash has VD!

    From lee.cooper21, on Fri 6 Nov 9:43AM
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