'Everton Family' Comes Together For EitC Showcase

Marco Silva says Everton in the Community’s Showcase provided compelling evidence of the “strong connection” which exists between the Club’s players and supporters.

Every member of Everton’s first-team squad participated in the event which highlighted the various strands of EitC’s life-changing, award-winning programmes. Each player also signed EitC's pledge board to commit their support to the charity.

Silva, who has overseen three successive Premier League victories and takes his team to Manchester United on Sunday, attended the Showcase at the Club’s USM Finch Farm training headquarters.

EitC, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, delivers more than 40 programmes aimed at tackling a range of social issues including health, disability, employment, anti-social behaviour, mental health and education.

 


“From the first day I was here, I felt this club was a family,” said Silva.

“Everton is a special club and has a special crowd. We have to give them important things, one of the most important is to give them 100 per cent, to achieve what we want and show on the pitch what we want to do.

“This connection is important and something we want to build. We are giving our maximum to achieve that big connection with our fans.

"It is really impressive how our club can support our community. It is a pleasure for the staff and players to be part of this afternoon.

“It is important for the players, too, they understand and enjoy how the Club wants to support the community.”

Everton’s victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday saw Silva’s team jump three places to eighth in the Premier League.

They have claimed 15 points from their opening nine matches and sit one point and two places above weekend opponents United.

Silva was able to hand an Everton debut to fit-again midfielder Andre Gomes against Palace. Gomes’s fellow summer deadline-day arrival from Barcelona Yerry Mina was named on the bench, while midfielder James McCarthy is training with Silva’s squad as he closes on a return from the broken leg he suffered in January.

The manager, then, is welcoming the opportunity to work with a near fully-staffed squad, having already made significant progress with those who have been available from the outset of the campaign.

Everton face Brighton & Hove Albion at home six days after the visit to United and sign off for November’s international break with an away game against Chelsea.

“The longer you can work with the players, the more you can improve,” said Silva.

“We are trying to improve and develop our players every day.

“We have played nine games in the Premier League but we have a lot of work to do and good things to achieve.

“It was important we could support what we’ve been doing from the first day with good results.

"The three wins will give our players what they need, this confidence and strong connection with our fans.

“But it is just three wins. The next three games are very important for us.”

Manchester United were only denied victory at Chelsea on Saturday by a Ross Barkley goal deep into stoppage time.

On their previous Premier League outing, Jose Mourinho’s side overturned a two-goal half-time deficit to beat Newcastle United 3-2.

“It will be a tough match, against a strong side with very good individual players and a very good manager,” added Silva.

“We will prepare for the game to try to achieve what we want – and in every game that is to win.

“Manchester United showed in their past two games how strong they can be. They didn’t start well against Newcastle but reacted in the second half and did the same against Chelsea.

“When they are in a good moment, they are a really strong team.

“We want to challenge them. We respect them as a team and they will respect us.

“But we want to compete and achieve a good result.”