Paul Tait hails his Everton U21 players despite their Premier League International Cup exit to Borussia Dortmund
Everton Under-21s manager Paul Tait admitted that a lack of cutting edge proved the difference as his side were beaten 2-0 at home to Borussia Dortmund to bow out of the Premier League International Cup at the quarter-finals stage.
After winning their group, the Blues took on their German opponents at Walton Hall Park but fell behind to Dortmund captain Tony Reitz’s penalty on 57 minutes after Aled Thomas brought down Ousmane Diallo.
Everton had some big opportunities to equalise with lively substitute Shea Pita rattling the crossbar before firing wide when in space at the back post and the hosts were made to pay in second-half stoppage time when a low drive from Almugera Kabar doubled the visitors’ advantage to seal their passage.
Tait told the ECHO: “I thought we created some really good chances, in the second half in particular. On another day we would have taken them.
“We left ourselves a bit open at the end as we went for it, pushing numbers forward and Dortmund were a team who played through transitions so that suited them. I’m disappointed with the result but not the performance.
“I thought it was a really good, high-level youth game. Both teams were going at it, not sitting in or banking up, both teams were pressing which forced the opposition to try and play through that press.
“There was some really good defending, some good set-plays, I thought it had a little bit of everything, a real good high-level game.”
Wrexham-born Thomas, who has been with Everton since the age of seven gave Dortmund their chance to go in front with a clumsy challenge but Tait was still proud of his players’ efforts.
He said: “I think it probably was a penalty for Dortmund. When Aled looks back, it was probably the only mistake that he made all night, but when you’ve got someone in the box with his back to goal, you don’t have to be so over-eager.
“It summed up the way they were tonight, they were desperate to get something out of the game and make it through to the semi-finals, but it wasn’t to be.
“We replaced the front players who had started the game and had been excellent. Maybe it wasn’t going to be their night and then the subs came on.
“Omari (Benjamin) got a couple of chances that he might have put away on another night and Shea gets that really good chance at the back post. I thought they had a really good impact without scoring the goal.”
After losing to Real Madrid in their opening fixture at Goodison Park, Everton defeated PSV Eindhoven, Monaco and RB Leipzig to top Group A and set up their clash with the Bundesliga outfit. Tait believes facing European opposition has been beneficial for his young players and hopes they can do it all again next year.
The 51-year-old said: “It’s been excellent. It’s been a really good tournament.
“We’d love to be a part of it next season. There’s been some really good learning for the players all the way through, it’s just a shame we haven’t got another top-level game now in the semi-finals, but it’s been a fantastic tournament.”