Merlin Rohl was speaking following Everton's thrilling 3-3 Premier League draw against Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night
Merlin Rohl up against Jeremy Doku during Everton's Premier League game against Manchester City
Merlin Rohl up against Jeremy Doku during Everton's Premier League game against Manchester City(Image: (PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images))
View 3 Images
Merlin Rohl believes Everton could have very easily been awarded a penalty against Manchester City and opened up the specific instructions he was given by David Moyes. Rohl impressed on his return to the Blues' starting line-up against Pep Guardiola’s side and played a key role in his side’s second-half fightback.
Jeremy Doku gave City a first-half lead, but Everton responded with three goals in 14 second-half minutes. Thierno Barry pounced on an under=hit backpass from Marc Guehi before Jake O’Brien headed home a corner.
Barry then had his side dreaming of all three points, but no sooner had he scored, Erling Haaland responded before Doku levelled things up in the seventh minute.
And although he was proud of his side’s efforts, Blues boss Moyes was left furious when his side were denied a penalty by referee Michael Oliver after Bernardo Silva grappled with Rohl inside the penalty area.
The incident occurred with Everton leading 3-2 and with just three minutes of normal time remaining. And when asked if he thought his should have been awarded a penalty, Rohl replied: “It's always hard when you're on the pitch and someone is grabbing you.
“I didn't look at it, but a lot of the guys were telling me it was a lot he was doing. I think also it was too much holding in the penalty spot. He was doing this all game.
“I did another action in the first half and he was doing it. He was not doing so much in the second half. Grabbing in this area could be a penalty.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 4: Everton manager David Moyes and his players look dejected after the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 4, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Everton manager David Moyes and his players look dejected after the Premier League match with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 4, 2026(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Rohl hadn’t started a game for Everton since the 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park back in January. And he admitted: “Highs and lows. At the end, unfortunately, we didn't get the win. But overall, a good game from us.
“You can always improve some things. For me, personally, I'm pretty happy to be on the pitch. I'm happy about most of the things we did on the pitch.
“The first minutes were tough. I did try to defend the left winger. He had some good moves, some quick steps. The first minutes my lungs were pumping.
“It's special from the manager to give me the trust in such a big game for us. We keep fighting for Europe.
“I was feeling the last games also that there's trust from the manager. When there's a situation, he will put me in and I can give the team something.
Merlin Roehl and Nico O'Reilly in action during the Everton vs Manchester City Premier League match
Merlin Roehl and Nico O'Reilly in action during the Everton vs Manchester City Premier League match(Image: (Michael Regan/Getty Images))
View 3 Images
“You're always waiting for your chance and you try to be ready. That's my job. Sometimes it's hard to stay patient.
“But that's also a skill you can learn in this situation. You will improve on that. It will help for maybe situations in the future that I will be much calmer in those situations and will improve.”
Deployed on the right, Rohl admits he was told to stay tight to Nico O'Reilly by his manager to avoid team-mate O’Brien being caught in one-vs-one situations.
“Yeah, that was the main job,” he replied when asked about staying tight to O’Reilly. “It's pretty hard when you see the positions the players have from City.
“It's hard to not leave Jake (O’Brien) on a one-against-one on the outside and also try to get the pass when he's passing behind to O'Reilly.
“But yeah, that was the plan. Sometimes it was difficult. We knew before the game it would be difficult, but we tried our best.”