Everton manager David Moyes insisted his side can still rescue their Champions League dream and qualify for the group stages despite watching them lose 2-1 to Villarreal in the third qualifying-round first leg at Goodison Park.
The Merseyside club have a mountain to climb in Spain in two weeks’ time after goals by former Birmingham City striker Luciano Figueroa and Josico presented Villarreal with a crucial edge to take into the deciding leg.
Everton, who scored through £6-million record signing James Beattie, must net at least twice if they are to make progress. If they fail, then they will be eliminated and will have to make do with the Uefa Cup.
Moyes’s men produced a battling display but could not find a way back after twice allowing the slick visitors to take the lead.
The Everton manager insisted it is not beyond his team to rescue the tie and urged his players to take inspiration from city rivals Liverpool, who came back from 3-0 down to win the Champions League final in May.
”It will require a big effort from us in Spain,” said Moyes. ”But we have seen recently how games can change very, very quickly. The tie is still alive. There is still 90 minutes to go. We have got to go to Spain believing we can score twice.”
Despite crushing disappointment at the result, Moyes could not fault his side’s efforts in their first competitive European tie for 10 years. And he labelled the debut of Phil Neville, a £3,5-million signing from Manchester United, as ”outstanding”.
”It was a fantastic effort by us,” added Moyes. ”We tried to beat them and put them under a lot of pressure. Their second goal, when the score was 1-1, took the wind out of our sails.
”If anything, it was us who looked more likely to score on the stroke of half-time rather than Villarreal.
”I though Phil Neville did everything right and he was outstanding. I’m very encouraged by his display.”
Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini has told his players the tie is not over. He warned against complacency despite a near-perfect performance by the Spaniards.
The Chilean said that he saw enough from Everton to suggest Moyes’s team can still save the tie.
”The match went according to plan as far as we are concerned,” said Pellegrini. ”But the tie is not over. We’re only 90 minutes into a two-legged affair. Everton are very tough rivals who will be fighting all the way.”
”The match went according to plan from our point of view. We knew Everton would be very physical but we handled that side of the game well.” — Sapa-AFP