David Unsworth says Everton have not given up hope of progressing from the Europa League group stage - and says he and the players will “give absolutely everything” to reward the travelling Toffees in Lyon on Thursday.
Everton currently sit bottom of Group E following three rounds of fixtures but a win against the French giants would throw the Blues right back in the mix for a place in the knockout rounds.
“We’re absolutely focused on winning the game. It’s a great opportunity for our group of players to come to a magnificent stadium, against a really good team and put in a top performance and win the game. We’re looking forward to it.
“I can assure you we’ll give it everything.”
Asked about the importance of the Europa League given the Club's recent domestic form, Unsworth added: “It is very important, because we have 3,000 Evertonians coming over to watch us [on Thursday]. That is really important to me and I know it’s important to the players.
“We’ll pick a team to win the game and I know our players will give absolutely everything for our fans making the trip.
“Every game that I stand there as Everton manager, every game that the lads put on the shirt to represent our great Club, it’s vitally important to try to win the game. Any competition - league, cup, anything - is vitally important. We do it for our fans.”
Unsworth, who will once again take charge of the first team, has urged his side to “go for it” against Bruno Génésio’s men at the Groupama Stadium, with the away support at the forefront of their minds.
“I want to win the game,” Unsworth said at his pre-match press conference. “We’ve got an uphill task but it’s not impossible. So, when something isn’t impossible, we go for it, and I certainly want to go for it tomorrow, win the game and hopefully we can then win the last two games as well.
“We’re absolutely focused on winning the game. It’s a great opportunity for our group of players to come to a magnificent stadium, against a really good team and put in a top performance and win the game. We’re looking forward to it.
“I can assure you we’ll give it everything.”
Asked about the importance of the Europa League given the Club's recent domestic form, Unsworth added: “It is very important, because we have 3,000 Evertonians coming over to watch us [on Thursday]. That is really important to me and I know it’s important to the players.
“We’ll pick a team to win the game and I know our players will give absolutely everything for our fans making the trip.
“Every game that I stand there as Everton manager, every game that the lads put on the shirt to represent our great Club, it’s vitally important to try to win the game. Any competition - league, cup, anything - is vitally important. We do it for our fans.”
