David Moyes admits he will no longer bring up the subject of Europe despite seeing his side keep their hope alive with another magnificent victory on the road
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: David Moyes, Manager of Everton, celebrates after Beto of Everton (not pictured) scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Everton at St James' Park on February 28, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
David Moyes celebrates after Beto putting Everton back in front in their 3-2 win at Newcastle United(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
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David Moyes is refusing to talk publicly about hopes of qualifying for Europe for fear of jinxing Everton’s hopes. The Blues boss has repeatedly talked up his ambitions of taking the club back into the continent’s elite competitions as part of efforts to raise expectations and standards after taking over with the club in a fourth successive relegation battle.
Thirteen months later and the latest away win once again boosted those hopes - while also reducing Eddie Howe to accepting Newcastle United were now facing a salvage job in the Premier League.
Asked what could be possible after a seventh away win of the campaign moved Everton within three points of the top seven, Moyes said: “You've probably not been in my press conferences, in every one I've sort of said I would like to try and talk about Europe.
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“I am not going with that because every time I say it, we fluff our lines. I'm probably just going to say: ‘Hey, let's see if we can try and keep challenging to be in the top half of the league and see where it goes from there’.”
Moyes added: “I'm honestly saying I told the players I wanted to get us in Europe. At West Ham we nearly got relegated and then the following season we made Europe, so I didn't think it was impossible to be done.
“But every time I get back to the Hill Dickinson, I start to feel as if it's getting harder and harder. We've done a great job away from home, we've got a great record away from home, and long may that continue.”
The Blues will look to end their seven-game winless run in all competitions at home on Tuesday when they host relegation-threatened Burnley.
Newcastle's defeat means they are now four points below Moyes' men, who moved up to eighth and remained within three points of seventh-placed Brentford.
And Magpies manager Howe, said: “Certainly in relation to the Premier League, our form for a while has not been strong enough, it’s not been good enough. We know that, we take responsibility for that.
“It’s been really frustrating for that, and that is the perils of Europe, I’m afraid. We’ve tried to be laser-focused on every game and give every attention to every game with the same importance.
“But with the deluge of games, your focus can be swayed and yes, our Premier League return in recent weeks has been nowhere near the level that it has been historically and our home form, which has been so reliable for us, has tailed off.
“We’ve got to try to grab that back as quickly as possible.”
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