Growing Maturity Key To Improved Blues Form, Says Silva

Marco Silva has pinpointed the increasing maturity of his Everton team and the growing understanding between the players as key factors behind the Blues' impressive form, insisting "we are taking the right steps to be stronger".

The Toffees have recorded five victories and two draws in their past nine Premier League matches.

This run has included wins over top-four contenders Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, with Silva’s side scoring seven goals and conceding none over the course of these three games.

Everton have consistently blended attacking ambition with defensive resilience as they have mounted a challenge for seventh spot in the Premier League. The Toffees are currently four points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers, who currently occupy that position.

The Blues will count themselves unfortunate not to be even closer to the Midlands club after a dominant performance against Crystal Palace on Saturday yielded only a point.

Everton’s slick, inventive football impressed at Selhurst Park as they carved out a host of opportunities – and hit the woodwork twice – but the Toffees were unable to strike a conclusive blow.

The draw means the Blues have moved to 50 points in the Premier League – one more than last season’s total – while their +6 goal difference is 20 goals superior than that achieved in 2017-18.

While manager Silva insisted Everton “deserved more” from the Palace contest, he says the fact his side controlled the match from start to finish highlights his team’s progress.

“Things are more settled, and the connections are coming more easily,” he told evertontv.

“The players know each other better and know our philosophy better. It is part of our process.

“Being more clinical and mature in the final part of the attack, with a lot of shots and our last decision [being better], we would have won against Palace.


"We were always in a good balance, dominating the game and creating chances. We deserved more but that is part of our process. 

“It [the performance] shows us we are going in the right way.

“Like I said from the first day – it was our goal to do better than last season. We have already achieved it in terms of points. There is a big difference in terms of goals scored and conceded, too.

“Everything is different, and we want to improve more. My aim is to do things better and better and better.

“We are taking the right steps to achieve that and be stronger, in the next two games [against Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur]. and next season, too.”


The manager also reinforced his desire to shape a team that has a strong bond with the Everton supporters.

Silva's team were again roared on a passionate following of Evertonians at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Those who travelled on the official coaches were boosted as Chairman Bill Kenwright donated £5 to each fan to buy a drink on the way to south London.

Next up for Everton is a home clash with Burnley on Friday night. Silva stressed the Blues’ determination to reward the fans’ loyal support by signing off at Goodison for the season with a victory.

“It was a fantastic gesture [the £5 donation] from our Chairman and what he did is not a surprise,” added Silva.

“The fans’ support was fantastic at Palace. They wanted three points, that was their desire and it was ours as well.

“I know they go home with a strange taste, like we do, because they saw our team playing well and with desire and doing everything on the pitch to win the game.

“We didn’t win, so it is a little bit strange. But I know they go home with the feeling we have tried everything.

“Not winning the game is a little bit frustrating. But it is part of the process and we have to keep working hard to achieve three points against Burnley in front of our home crowd at Goodison.”