Michael Keane spoke after his goal sealed Everton's 2-0 win over Fulham at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Michael Keane has revealed Everton’s players are aiming to push for a European place this season while lifting the lid on what he described as “the best feeling ever.” The Blues went into their home game with Fulham in 14th place, but a 2-0 victory moved them to within just three points of the European qualification spots.
And Keane said: “We definitely want to be looking towards the top half of the table, we want to be looking up rather than over our shoulder. That’s why today was such a massive game to get us back in the picture.
“That’s something we want to do and something we need to keep working to get better every day to strive for.
“The message has been to aim even higher than that and why not? I think we’ve got a lot of good players here and we’ve not had the results lately that we would have liked but a lot of people would say we’re playing a lot better than we have in previous years, they can see that improvement within the team and with that comes more expectation and we’re hoping to finish higher up the league.”
The 32-year-old added: “We knew how important today was to get the points. We’ve been a bit frustrated the last month or so, the manager has said and we’ve known ourselves that we’ve played well in patches but not done it for 90 minutes and not got the results we want, so it was really important to do it here and we’re happy to get the win.
“It could have been a little bit easier on another day if those goals had been allowed to stand but that’s the way it is. It was frustrating, but we were putting the pressure on and looked dangerous, whether that was set-plays are just getting the ball into the box, so I’m happy that we were looking like we were going to score.”
Keane, whose famous strikes in front of the Gwladys Street include his left-foot finish that started the comeback in the 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace to secure Everton’s Premier League status in 2022, and his long-range last-minute equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur the following year, has now netted at both ends at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
He headed in against West Ham United on September 29 but admitted this effort in front of ‘The Blue Wall’ in the South Stand came off another part of his body but was just as satisfying.
The centre-back said: “That’s what it’s all about. It’s the best feeling ever.
“To score in front of those fans in that stand is a great feeling. I just feel at the minute when I’m going up for corners and stuff that I’m going to get a chance and it’s up to me to take it.
“Ki (Dewsbury-Hall) put a great ball in and it was a great shoulder!
“I feel like I’m playing well. I feel like I’m being consistent and defending well, first and foremost, that’s kind of what I’m focusing on.
“I’m trying to be a goal threat and good on the ball as well but first and foremost I want to defend well and help the team keep clean sheets. I think that’s the most pleasing thing from today that we kept a clean sheet as it’s been a while.”
Keane has now scored 18 times in 242 marches for Everton but with new striker Thierno Barry still waiting to open his account, he offered encouragement to the France Under-21 international and backed him to come good.
He said: “We’re definitely trying to help when it comes to easing him into the Premier League. It’s not easy coming from abroad to the Premier League when you’re a young lad.
“It’s not been the easiest start for him, but I thought he played really well and I think he showed a bit of what he can do. He just needs a goal, and that will come, that will definitely come if he keeps on playing like he did today, he’ll get more chances and he’ll start scoring goals.”
Keane had a different team-mate alongside him in the back four as James Garner, whose preferred position is central midfield, replaced Jake O’Brien at right-back having previously deputised for Vitalii Mykolenko at left-back earlier this season.
The 24-year-old’s versatility has proven useful for David Moyes and Keane said: “He’s been amazing. I think wherever you put him, he can do a great job, he’s very good on the ball and he’s very good defensively as well.
“I think he reads the game really well and his positioning is very good. I thought Jimmy was great, so it was good to have him there.”