Source: SKY_Sports
Toffees maintain league focus
Everton will not allow their upcoming FA Cup semi-final tie at Wembley to distract them from their UEFA Champions League goal.
The Toffees seemed to underperform despite their 3-1 defeat of Stoke at the weekend, prompting rumours they were more concerned by their upcoming cup tie.
Set to play Manchester United on 19th April, David Moyes' side face the prospect of meeting Arsenal, Chelsea or Hull in the final at the end of May.
However, just four points off fourth placed Arsenal and Aston Villa in fifth, key figures at the club insist their main aim this term is to achieve Champions League status.
Keen to stress the club's intentions, assistant manager Steve Round said: "We still have that as our goal, we must concentrate on that before we start thinking about the cup semi-final.
"There are no concerns from the players about not getting hurt before the cup semi-final, that is not something I have not seen at all about them.
"We have put the cup on hold now, because they must still concentrate on the league. It is important that we maintain our challenge for a top four place and reach the Champions League.
"That was our goal at the start of the season and it is still our goal now. We will try our best to get there, we must still concentrate on the league before anything else."
Good runNine points clear of their nearest challengers West Ham, European football looks certain for the Toffees with nine games to go.
Round, though, insists Everton will continue to play at the top of their game in the hope of achieving a top-four finish.
"We know that getting into Europe next season is very close, and sixth or seventh spot should do it," he said.
"But we would never start thinking that the job is done, despite how well the league table looks.
"It is important that we maintain our good run, if you build runs you keep your form and if you do that you take good form into the semi finals.
"We are on a very good run," he added. "One defeat in 18 which is terrific, but we must keep it all ticking over."