View from the Opposition: Moyes on 'incredibly special' emotions of success in Europe

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In their first game since sealing a place in the Conference League Final, Crystal Palace return to Premier League action against Everton this afternoon (14:00 BST) – here's the latest from the Toffees' manager David Moyes, a former Conference League winner himself, as his own team continue to push for a European place...

Factfile

Manager: David Moyes
Nickname: The Toffees
League Position: 10th
Ground: The Hill Dickinson Stadium
Founded: 1878 (148 years ago)

In their manager's words...

In his pre-match press conference David Moyes was asked about the potential impacts a European campaign could have on his club, comparing it with Palace's situation.

Thursday's UEFA Conference League semi-final win means Palace will place 60 games this season, the last of which will be Leipzig in the Final. By contrast Everton have played 41 games in 2025/26.

Moyes is looking to take his team into the same competition next season, with his team just three points behind seventh-placed Bournemouth ahead of the weekend's action.

"Obviously, if things went our way," he said, "and we found ourselves with more games, like Crystal Palace have had all year, then we might need to think slightly different [in terms of recruitment], but I don't think so.

"I got a chance to do a European campaign only a few years ago with West Ham. It was amazing for the football club.

"Amazing for the supporters, players, myself and the staff. It's hard to put into words what that feels like. If I could get that for the Everton supporters, that's what I really want to do.

"But people don't understand how difficult it is to play the amount of games Crystal Palace have played.

"To play Thursday-Sunday football, for a coach is really difficult. You have to try change over quickly and be ready for the game on the Sunday.

Match Action: Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace

"The way football managers work it can be difficult. But Crystal Palace have done brilliantly to reach a European final. It's sensational for them.

"It's such a big thing. You tend to find you have effects after the [European] games, I'm hoping that Crystal Palace find they have some.

"Big congratulations to him [Oliver Glasner] and his team, it's unbelievable. They have good players, a good team, a good manager and now they find themselves in another final... a European final, which is incredibly special."

Everton Team News

Moyes confirmed in his press conference that midfielder Idrissa Gueye will miss the trip to Selhurst Park.

The Everton boss said he's "not training yet" but that he is "fine" and it's not a "serious injury" and that he "hopes he'll be back soon."

Jack Grealish, who scored the winner in the reverse fixture, and Jarrad Branthwaite – with foot and hamstring injuries respectively – are longer-term absentees for the Toffees.

The Boss: David Moyes

David Moyes has revitalised the Toffees since returning midway through last season, where he steered the club away from a relegation battle to comfortable safety.

A player at Preston North End before taking over as manager from Gary Peters in 1998, the team were promoted to the First Division in May 2000. Preston only narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League the next season with a 3-0 defeat against Bolton Wanderers in the First Division play-off final.

Moyes was then poached by Everton in March 2002 - going onto become one of the most respected managers in the Premier League. During his first spell with the blue half of Merseyside, Moyes took the team to a top-four finish, an FA Cup final, with the team regularly finishing in the top eight of the league with a modest budget.

The Scotsman stayed for 11 years before Manchester United recruited him as Sir Alex Ferguson's replacement in the Old Trafford hotseat. Moyes never looked comfortable in the Old Trafford hotseat and departed towards the end of a disappointing season.

After a mixed spell in Sociedad and a unsuccessful season in charge of Sunderland, Moyes took charge at West Ham, firstly as interim manager in the 2018/19 season. But he returned to the London Stadium 18 months later, this time on a permanent basis to replace Manuel Pellegrini.

Again, he lifted the Hammers towards top-flight survival, and the following year, managed West Ham to their record Premier League points total of 65, finishing sixth and qualifying for the Europa League.

They reached the semi-finals of the competition, while the same season saw Moyes’ West Ham secure a top-seven finish and Conference League football for 2022/23.

Moyes led the Hammers to victory in the tournament, beating Fiorentina in the final and claiming the club’s first major European trophy since 1965.

After leaving the Londoners at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Moyes remained unattached before his return to Goodison Park last year, replacing Sean Dyche.

In his first full campaign back on Merseyside, Everton could still secure European qualification with a decent return from their final three games.

Stat Attack

Thanks to losing goals against Liverpool and West Ham, and then an equalising goal from Manchester City, Everton are the first team in Premier League history to concede a 90th minute (or later) result-altering goal in three consecutive matches.
Palace have lost the last two Premier League matches, conceding three goals in both (1-3 vs Liverpool, 0-3 vs Bournemouth). However, the Eagles haven’t lost three in a row while conceding 3+ goals since October/November 2016.
Only the top two (Arsenal and Manchester City) boast meaner defences in the league this season than Palace (12 clean sheets) and Everton (11 clean sheets).

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