Everton manager David Moyes struck a positive and defiant tone following his side’s 2–0 defeat to Chelsea, insisting the scoreline did not reflect his team’s performance at Stamford Bridge, Softfootball reports.
Speaking after the match, in a video posted by HaytersTV on youtube, Moyes said,
Overall, if it’s a game against 11 v 1, that’s how we start. I thought we played well today. I did. We’ve got a good away record, and I hope the people who haven’t watched have actually recognized why we’ve done really well.
Watch the full press conference below;
He admitted the game shifted briefly after the loss of Kieran, which disrupted Everton for around 10 to 15 minutes and led to a conceded goal after a runner was not tracked.
We lost a goal, dropped a runner, but it’d be hard to be disappointed with a lot of the stuff we’ve done,
Moyes explained.
He stressed he was pleased with his players’ attitude and effort, noting, “
Right to the end, they kept going, kept trying to get a goal, try to get us back in the game. At 2–0, we were never out of the game. There was always a chance if we could get one then with a chance of getting another.
Moyes also confirmed injury concerns, revealing,
Jack felt his hamstring a little bit as well. So, we just need to be careful on these boys,”while Kieran’s issue remains under evaluation.
Moyes highlighted the significance of the missed opportunity, explaining that a positive result at Chelsea could have pushed Everton into the top four. “When you get chances like that in football, you have to try and take them,” he said, adding that his players were challenged to prove they could match a top side away from home.
He also addressed the impact of the Africa Cup of Nations, confirming Everton will lose two players during the tournament but reiterating the club’s full support for AFCON. Moyes emphasized that such absences are an accepted reality when signing African internationals.
Despite Everton’s limited squad depth, Moyes praised the players available to him, stating they have done an excellent job to keep the club in a strong league position. He expressed hope that Everton will have further chances before the end of the season to push toward the league’s top places.
Finally, Moyes hinted at the club’s desire to retain key players amid growing external interest, stating Everton will do everything possible to secure new contracts and continue building on the progress shown this season.
