Michael Ball has fired a warning shot to Everton’s European rivals insisting the pressure is all on them, not the Blues.
David Moyes’ side made a proper statement on Saturday, dismantling Chelsea 3-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium to send the place bonkers. And with seven games left to play, the unthinkable is suddenly looking very, very possible.
The Toffees are level on points with Brentford heading into their clash this weekend, and Liverpool yes, that Liverpool are just three points above them. Michael Ball, writing in his regular column, reckons the chase for Europe is now in Everton’s own hands.
And what a thing that is to say.
“It’s great just to be in that conversation,” said the former Blues defender. “David Moyes has come out publicly and said how this club belongs in Europe.”
When Moyes walked back through the door back in January, the club was a mess. One point above the relegation zone, a squad low on confidence and a fanbase braced for another relegation scrap. To be sitting here now, in March, with a genuine shot at European qualification? It’s a proper turnaround.
But Ball isn’t getting carried away. Not entirely, anyway.
“We’ve got tough tests ahead against our arch rivals and we’ve also got Manchester City to come,” he said. “There are no easy games, but this is a huge test for David Moyes and the boys.”
What makes this run different, though, is the mood around the place. The Chelsea win wasn’t a fluke. It was built on the same steel and organisation Moyes has instilled since day one. They’ve gone toe to toe with Arsenal and come away with credit. They’ve just put three past a Champions League chasing side without breaking sweat.
“They’ve gone toe to toe with Arsenal and just beaten Chelsea,” Ball added. “We’re on a nice little run and with the confidence, belief and desire we’re showing, there could be a massive reward at the end of the season.”
His message to the players? Simple. Go for it.
“If we fall short, it happens, but we’ve not expected to be here,” he said. “The manager will want levels to keep rising. If you’re a player, start setting yourself targets. Can we get into Europe? Can we finish above Liverpool? You’ve got to have that belief. You can’t just be happy finishing where you are.”
That last line is key. Because let’s be honest back in August, if you’d offered any Evertonian a 12th place finish and a quiet season, they’d have bitten your hand off. No stress, no relegation fights, just a bit of improvement.
But this is different now. This is opportunity.
And Ball reckons that’s exactly where Everton’s advantage lies. There’s no weight on Moyes or his players. Nobody expected this. Meanwhile, the clubs around them are feeling the squeeze.
“There’s no pressure on David Moyes and these Everton players,” Ball said. “We’ve got to use that to our advantage because there is pressure on other clubs and their fanbases to hold on to where they are. They’re not happy with how their seasons are going but we’re flying high and full of confidence.”
The message from the former skipper is clear: enjoy it, but don’t settle. Don’t put the flipflops on now.
“Let’s strive to see what we can do and whether it can bring even bigger smiles.”
With Brentford, Liverpool and Manchester City still to come at home, the run in is daunting. But for the first time in years, Everton are heading into it with a swagger rather than a wince. And in a season where nobody saw this coming, that might just be the most dangerous thing of all.
