Merlin Rohl has revealed Everton’s dressing room still has one eye on Europe even after Manchester City landed a late gut punch at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
The Blues and Pep Guardiola’s side served up a six goal craziness fest, with the points shared in a breathless 3-3 draw.
City looked home and dry when Jeremy Doku fired home before the break. Then Everton exploded. Three goals in 14 second half minutes turned the game on its head and had Goodison sorry, Hill Dickinson rocking.
But football has a cruel sense of humour.
Erling Haaland pulled one back. Then, deep into stoppage time, Doku struck again. Seven minutes added on. Seven minutes of pain.
That makes Everton the first team in Premier League history to concede a result altering goal in the 90th minute or later in THREE matches running. Stat that’ll haunt Rohl’s sleep.
Still, the German midfielder ain’t throwing in the towel.
“Yeah, as a football team, we always reach for the best outcome,” he said. “Even today, we are disappointed because we didn’t get the win.
“The win would have helped us so much with our goal. But we try to win every game and look at the next game. We’ll see how the situation is.”
Europe might be a long shot now. But the belief hasn’t died. Not yet.
Rohl’s own future, mind you, is already sorted.
His season long loan from Freiburg always had an obligation to buy around £18million and confirmation is expected any day now after Everton mathematically guaranteed their top flight survival last month.
“I’m happy to be at this club,” the Germany under 21 star said. “I’m happy for every minute I get on this pitch. It’s a really special club. We will see next season. But I’m really happy if I stay here and can make an impact like today.”
Monday’s start was Rohl’s first since the 1-0 win at Aston Villa back in January. Game time’s been scarce. But he never panicked.
“I think he trusts me all the time,” Rohl said of his manager. “That’s the important thing. Even when I was not playing, I knew that he would trust me at some point. I just need to be patient.”
Against City, he was deployed on the right wing, a role he’s barely touched in years. Didn’t faze him.
“I’m here living my dream, playing for a great club, playing in the best league in the world,” he added. “Inside me, there’s no need to only play in one position.
“Today was the first time I’ve played on the right wing for a long time, but I can play anywhere on the right wing, right back, central midfield.
“I’m always happy to contribute.”
