Merlin Rohl was speaking following Everton's 3-1 Premier League defeat to Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Merlin Rohl
Merlin Rohl (Image: ( James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))
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Merlin Rohl admits Everton blew their last opportunity to get back into the European picture against Sunderland. Rohl might have fired his side ahead two minutes before the break, but a second-half capitulation handed the Black Cats all three points.
The Blues are now six games without a win, and although their hopes of European football are not mathematically over, they now rest on a series of improbable results on the final day.
And Rohl admitted: “It was a big opportunity for us. We had opportunities in the last games, but this one was perhaps the last opportunity to get back in the race for Europe.
“We didn’t get the win today and it’s disappointing, especially on a day like this – the last home game for Seamus Coleman.
“We didn’t play great in the first half, but we took the lead. Sometimes this is football, but we couldn’t get another goal.
“Football is always so tough and sometimes you win the games by only a margin, and the last few games we couldn’t get the win, and that’s disappointing.”
While the midfielder also said: “I always try to look at what I can control and what our team can control, that is, playing our best and trying to win the next game and be better than we were today.
“We need to try to be better defensively and don’t concede as many goals as we have today and we have been in the last couple of games. That is all we can focus on and then we will see where that takes us.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Merlin Roehl of Everton celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Iliman Ndiaye during the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Merlin Rohl celebrates scoring his first goal for Everton, who were unable to build on it as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Sunderland (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
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Rohl’s stay on Merseyside is set to be made permanent this summer, as his initial season-long loan move from Freiburg contained an obligation to buy.
Confirmation of the deal, understood to be worth around £18 million, is imminent after Everton mathematically secured their Premier League survival last month.
But despite impressing against Aston Villa back in January, the 23-year-old then had to wait nearly four months before he was handed his next start.
However, after impressing in the thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City earlier this month, Rohl has started his side’s last two games.
And while he admits that he is willing to play anywhere required, he also opened up on how the time he spent out of the team made him much more humble.
He said: “I had a run where I wasn’t playing, and I think it humbles you in quite a way that you always try to be grateful and not look into the future and say, 'I want this and that'.
“I want to play all the time and just do my best. I just try to work as hard as possible, and the manager trusts me, and in the last couple of games he has trusted me, and it has been great.
“I am so grateful to be on the pitch and I don’t care what position, and I don’t care about whatever happens. I just want to work hard for this club, and I want to win, and that is why I am disappointed today.”