Abdoulaye Doucoure, the man whose goal kept Everton in the Premier League, has warned his team-mates that they must improve as it would be unacceptable for the club to be involved in a relegation fight for a third consecutive season.
The Blues have spent more seasons in the top flight of English football than any other club and are now looking forward to their 121st campaign at the elite level but before Doucoure struck his 57th minute wonder-strike in their final game of 2022/23 at home to Bournemouth they had been destined for a first relegation in 72 years.
Even though they survived, it was still Everton’s lowest equivalent points total in their entire 135-year history in the Football League/Premier League and the midfielder admits they have not been good enough.
EXCLUSIVE: Joao Virginia opens up on future as Everton goalkeeper pecking order changes
READ MORE: Harry Maguire and four more names linked with outside chance of Everton transfer
Doucoure told evertonfc.com: “Obviously, I love to score goals and this one was maybe the best and most important of my career, so I’m very happy. I’m delighted for my teammates and for the club, but we must now look forward.
“We’ve been in this position for two seasons now, so we can’t go back to this every year. We are going to reflect on what happened and the mistakes we made. For each player, I don’t think the season was good enough.
“When you play for Everton, you need to be much better than that. I don’t think Bournemouth was our best game, me included, but you have to believe. When you represent Everton, you have to always give your best.”
Doucoure, whose one-year contract extension had been activated by the club before the game, admits he knew the scoreline from the King Power Stadium that was sending Everton down at the time but the Blues knew their destiny was in their own hands and they would survive so long as they were victorious in their own fixture. He said: “The manager always believed in us, and every player believed in each other.
“I did hear Leicester were winning, but I was always just focused on winning our game. In my head I was thinking of maybe scoring a winner and thank God, I scored that one.
“We knew we needed to win the game, no matter what the others were going to do. We needed to win at home, especially.”
READ NEXT
Conor Coady sends blunt message to 'people upstairs' at Everton after transfer decision
Everton Stadium loan figure revealed as MSP move closer to securing deal
Roberto Martinez couldn't fulfil Bill Kenwright vow but Everton should remember the joy he brought
Neville Southall blunt verdict summed up life for Everton fans as Man United are given glimpse
James Ward-Prowse and four more players Everton could target from relegated clubs
