David Moyes was delighted after his side came from behind to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage
Sky Sports
David Moyes hopes his side can qualify for Europe(Image: Sky Sports)
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David Moyes played down expectations that Everton could qualify for Europe but insisted that was his ultimate goal - whenever it may come.
The Blues boss described the 2-1 win at Fulham - a victory that kept his side well in contention for a top seven finish - as “hugely important”. But his immediate reaction when asked about it following the match was to state that it moved the club further away from trouble at the bottom of the league - something Everton have experienced a lot of over recent years.
Moyes said he was working to ensure his players were aware of the demands he hopes they will meet but expressed caution when discussing whether they could be achieved this season.
Speaking after a second successive win at Craven Cottage, Moyes said: “It is hugely important. I think it probably keeps us away from the big R-word at the bottom of the league, that's for sure. The idea now is to try and push on. But with every win you get in the Premier League you get quite excited, but you lose a game and you can easily be at the wrong end of the league.
“With the two away games in this period, to pick up a point at Brighton and win three at Fulham today, I think Fulham have the second or the third best home record in the league, so from that point of view it is a great result for us.”
Asked directly whether he would encourage supporters to dream of spending next season travelling across the continent, he said: “I get asked this and I don't know if I regret saying it all the time. I don't want to come in here and say we're just trying to avoid relegation. I don't want to do that because Everton has had too much bad news and bad publicity and stuff.
“So I'd rather come in and say: ‘Hey we're having a go at Europe.’
“You might laugh at me in a few weeks’ time and say ‘how stupid were you?’. But I'd rather be positive and try to make the players know that that's what I want.
“And they do know, they're well aware that we'd like to do that… I think we've made big improvements, and we need to make more big improvements in the coming transfer windows and over the next year or two as well.”