Most managers outside the traditional Big Six prefer to avoid mentioning European qualification for fear of tempting fate, but Everton manager David Moyes has adopted a “why not?” mindset and is encouraging his players to aim high.
The Toffees sit eighth in the table ahead of Tuesday’s home match against Bournemouth and could climb to sixth place — above rivals Liverpool and Brentford — with a victory.
With a top-five finish likely to secure Champions League football again, it means positions sixth, seventh and eighth could all lead to European qualification.
Moyes is not worried about jinxing the club’s chances by speaking openly about competing in Europe and wants everyone connected with Everton to set ambitious targets.
“I believe Everton should be competing around those positions, I really do,” Moyes said. “The years when they weren’t were years wasted. Everton should be trying to reach Europe.
“We may not be strong enough, we might fall short, and later in the season people might remind me that I talked about it. But I’ve been trying to make Everton more positive —
a better image, a better feeling, and better results, all with the hope that… you never know. It might come too soon this season. We could lose two matches and I’ll be saying how great it is that we’ve stayed clear of relegation!
“But right now, given where we are, we must believe we can challenge the top teams. I want that mindset to filter through to the players. That’s the objective.
“Fifteen years ago, during my first spell, it felt impossible to break into the group of top teams. We kept trying to push beyond those four or five clubs. Every season, reaching the Champions League seemed almost out of reach.
“We managed it once in 2005, so it proved it could be done. Now, though, the competition among the middle group of teams is so tight that even a side in 15th could still make Europe with a strong run. So if we just keep adding points… we’ve had a couple of frustrating draws, but they’ve still helped us.”
For the first time in many months, Moyes has almost a full squad available apart from Jack Grealish, who is ruled out for the remainder of the season. The 62-year-old believes he is no longer in management simply to fight relegation battles and wants to focus upward.
“When I look back now, I think, ‘Those years in Europe really changed West Ham as a football club,’” Moyes added, noting that European competition also helps attract higher-quality players.
“It made a big difference financially and in how the club was viewed. We reached a semi-final, a quarter-final and a final over three seasons.
“Next weekend, because we’re out of the FA Cup, I’ll be sitting with nothing to do, and I don’t want that. I want us to be involved. I’m too old now to sit here and say my only goal is to keep us away from the bottom of the league.”
