Silva’s Everton are committed to playing entertaining football

Everton take on Cardiff City today at Goodison Park looking to continue their good home form. Marco Silva, in his pre-match comments, insisted that the Blues remain committed to entertaining the supporters.

Two former players have recently said that watching the current team is exciting for them - Leon Osman and Joe Parkinson have both stated how much they anticipate matchdays, a feeling that echoes the sentiment of most of the fanbase.

Speaking to evertontv the manager expressed his happiness at their comments -

“It is fantastic to hear that. We are here to win matches and develop our squad and players. And also to give the fans something they enjoy.

“Not only the enjoyment from whether we win or not, but enjoyment from what they are seeing. We want them to enjoy and feel this connection with our players, with our team. The supporters feel how we are fighting on the pitch to achieve a good result.

“We want to get them involved in our game – to play with us and support our team.

“And when we get these types of messages [from Osman and Parkinson], it is important because they understand the Club and know the Club.

“It is really important for us.”

The Blues have put in some exciting performances recently, and did well away at Chelsea too in their last game before the international break.

“That is our goal [to reproduce what Everton delivered at Stamford Bridge]. I know, and everybody knows, it is not easy. But that is our goal.

“In the first 30 minutes, we played really, really well. We controlled the match and played within our strategy.

“I saw in our players and squad a big ambition, always trying to play to score, even when Chelsea were creating more problems for us.

“Saturday will be a different match – Chelsea is done, we achieved a point and that point represents something good for us if we achieve three points against Cardiff.”

Silva is expecting Cardiff under Neil Warnock to give the Blues a fight today.

“It will be a tough match, for sure. Cardiff will approach the game with their model and system and are strong in what they do. We have to be strong and play at our best level to win the match.

“Our goal is to keep achieving good results and keep winning at home. But it will be tough. It has been a different two weeks [from usual] preparing for the match.

“We only worked with all of our players for the first time on Friday.

“But that is not an excuse, it is not our way [to make excuses] – we will be ready and we have to play at our best level to win.”

The Toffees have five centrehalves who are all fit and ready to play, and the manager knows he has some difficult decisions to make across the pitch.

“That is the most important thing for a coach. No one wants only 11 players. With all of them ready, in good condition and working hard and performing well, it is very good for us as a club – whether or not it is a big headache for me as a coach.

“And I cannot forget – because it is not my way – Phil Jagielka and Mason Holgate. We have five solutions for two positions.

“It is a tough decision for me, a good headache, not only over which players will start but the central defenders I will put in the squad.”