Source: SKY_Sports
Moyes ready for Europe
David Moyes thinks that Everton are well prepared for the start of their Europa League campaign after beating Malaga on Friday night.
The Toffees will have to defeat Czech side Sigma Olomouc to progress to the group stages of the new-look European competition.
Belgian champions Standard Liege dumped Everton out of the Uefa Cup in last year's first round, a result Moyes will be keen to avoid a repeat of.
The Scottish manager believes that the win over Malaga served as a useful tune-up for the all-important clash on 20th August.
"We want to avoid that (losing) again. Getting through this play-off tie and reaching the Europa League format is crucial," Moyes said.
"Beating Malaga will be a real help to our preparation. It was like a European tie and that will give us a bit of help for the Europa League matches we have coming up, the first in just over a week."
Although Sigma demolished Aberdeen 8-1 on aggregate during the qualifying rounds, Moyes does not think they will pose Everton as many problems as Standard Liege did.
"They are not (as tough as) Standard Liege, who beat us last season in the Uefa Cup," the 46-year-old added.
"The European draw is difficult, the Czech side put eight past Aberdeen so I will need to have a chat with Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee about that and what he thinks they are like.
"As yet I don't know a great deal about them. But that will change when I start work on it. But they are not Standard Liege, they are not as good as that.
"At least this will not be as tough as last season, Liege were such a good side to get at this stage. But it will still be hard. We have to see whether we are good enough."
Everton will have played only one Premier League game before taking on Sigma in the first leg at Goodison Park.
Despite the date of the tie not being ideal, Moyes assured fans that there would be no lack of effort from his players.
He said: "Getting ready for the tie so early in the season is the key. Can we be ready for those two games in time?
"We didn't get past Liege last season but maybe in the end that was one of the reasons we had such a good run to the FA Cup final.
"But every competition we enter we are trying to win it, and that includes the Europa League."
