AliousDavid Moyes has expressed his determination to settle unfinished business in the FA Cup, reflecting on his near-misses during his first tenure at Everton. The Scottish manager came agonizingly close to securing silverware for the Toffees, most notably in the 2009 FA Cup final. Everton took a dream start with Louis Saha scoring just 29 seconds into the match, but Chelsea responded with goals from Didier Drogba and future Everton manager Frank Lampard to claim the trophy.
Moyes also guided Everton to the 2012 FA Cup semi-final, where they once again struck first against Liverpool, only to suffer a 2-1 defeat as their Merseyside rivals mounted a comeback. Now back at the helm and having won three of his first four games, Moyes is eager to rewrite that history.
“I’d absolutely love to reach the cup final,” Moyes admitted. “I still remember Louis scoring after just 29 seconds—we were actually talking about that recently because we scored in 10 seconds last week. Everyone wants to win the cup; no team goes into it without that ambition. If we can keep our run going, it would be great. This club deserves to be part of those big moments again. Everton hasn’t had much to celebrate lately, and progressing to the next round would be a step in the right direction.”
Moyes also believes there’s been a noticeable shift in the team’s mindset. With Everton now nine points clear of the relegation zone and holding a strong goal difference over Leicester in 18th place, the mood around Goodison Park has improved significantly.
“The last thing we need right now is unnecessary pressure,” Moyes continued. “These players have been carrying that weight for far too long—whether it’s from performances, results, or even criticism from their own supporters. But now, you can sense a bit of freedom. They’re playing with more confidence, like they can finally breathe again without that constant unease.
“That being said, we’re just getting started. It’s been a good run so far, but there’s a long road ahead with plenty of challenges. There will be tough moments, but we’re ready to face them head-on.”
Moyes’ return has reignited belief among Everton fans, and he’s determined to finally deliver the FA Cup glory that eluded him over a decade ago.
Alious
