David Moyes
Happy to win in first game after the break?
It’s never easy when you come back. You’re not sure if going to have players fit and available. Everton had problems, we had our as well with Ben Johnson and Manuel Lanzini. It was a good three points. We could have been cleaner at times with what we’d done but at this time of the season happy to take the points and move on.
When did you decide Bowen would start?
Only yesterday when I knew Lanzini wasn’t going to make it. Lanzini’s played really well for us so then it was about if we start Jarrod for 50 or 60 minutes or bring him on for 30 minutes. He’s not quite all there yet. It’s not his fitness but we has a bit worried. We chose to start him and it worked out well. I was never really worried about Jarrod. He said he didn’t know if he was sharp enough but he has such high standards. He might have been called up for England in the last break but he was unfortunate to get injured. If he finishes the season well he’ll be back in contention for those game in June.
Sets up getting back into top six?
There was pressure on today’s game. It was a big game for Everton. We’ve got a huge game today but in my mind a huge game in midweek as well with Premier Leagues after that are really important to us. We weren’t as slick or as good but it was a good performance to win the game.
Four home wins in a row a nice set up for Thursday?
It does. We’re all really looking forward to it. It’s a huge moment for us and the club as well. Hopefully we can do it. We all need to play well and get the players ready if we can and be in the best form we can be for Thursday.
Difficult not to be a little distracted today?
If you want to be a big club and challenge you’ve got to be able to do it. Top players do it with their preparation, their recovery, how they sleep. Look at the top players now from Man City, Liverpool in big games all the time. Those players have to prepare. We have quite a tight squad and been at it most of the year. I’m trying to take it a game at a time, focus on it and hope we’re on the right end of it. Being back in the Europe bracket, back in the fight, shows in the main we’ve had a consistent season.
Cresswell?
He played much better before his back injury. He was in top form up until mid-November when that happened and there are signs he is getting a little back to it. It’s taken a little while. We were trying to work out how many free kicks he has taken before he scored one. I guessed 625. We don’t know exactly. He’s provided great assists from corners and wide free kicks but I don’t remember him scoring many from a direct free kick. Everton have a top goalkeeper so to get it over the wall and in was really good.
Set pieces?
Everybody can find out who’s good from corners, not good from corners. People ask if we practice a lot of stuff. No. But it’s become so relevant in the game, we’re not daft. We look to see what the opposition do, we look at what we do. You need people who are technically gifted to get it up and down over the wall. We’ve not had many in my time here, I can’t think of any in my time here that you’ve scored. Two and a half years? Cressy has an ability with it but we’ll never hear the end of it. The boys will give him a lot of stick. He’s very popular.
Ben Johnson?
He felt his hamstring playing for England on Wednesday night. He trained Friday and Saturday but felt it again Saturday. We don’t think it’s bad but it was a decision today. We didn’t not want him for other weeks. I’m hoping he’ll be ok.
Proposed change that if big six win FA Cup they will get into the Champions League but not clubs outside of big six?
I worked for UEFA, did a lot of stuff for them, but I didn’t agree with format of previously rewarding big teams. We talk about being inclusive in football, that means give all the teams the opportunity to get there. If a smaller side won it, we’d expect to be treated the same way. I don’t agree with that. Maybe if I was at a top six regular, would I want that? I don’t think most people see that as the correct format to go. It should be on merit.
Lyon? Aouar among quick skilful players? Started preparing for them yet?
They are a really good team. We know about them, what they are capable of, but our focus today was Everton. We’ll start to look towards Lyon as we move forward now.
Everton?
I think they’ll be OK. When you have the quality of their forward players, Brazil and England centre forwards, players in wide areas who can score goals. They have good things going on. They should feel more positive about it. I’ve been there a couple of times. At Sunderland and West Ham. It’s not a good place to be. You never know what way it will go. Everton have the quality. They have injuries, Van de Beek not making it in the last minute, and small things can happen to affect your team.
