Siggy hoping super goal is just the start
the timing was so important as well.”
After Everton’s £140mplus summer spend, Sigurdsson insists Ronald Koeman has assembled a squad deep and good enough to cope with the gruelling Europa League schedule – it will take Everton 19 games to lift the trophy – while also fighting for a top-four place in the Premier League.
“It’s important we make a mark in Europe,” he said. “The club have spent a lot of money to make the squad bigger for us to compete in this competition and it ❑ EVERTON have been drawn in Group E of the Europa League alongside Atalanta, Lyon and Apollon Limassol. Ronald Koeman’s side will travel to Italy to face Atalanta in the opening game on September 14 and the Everton manager said: “It is a good, strong group. It’s tough but it’s tough for everybody.” would have been a big disappointment if we’d not been in the hat for the draw for the group stages.
“We want to go far in this competition. And the squad is both good enough and strong enough to cope with both the Premier League and the Europa League.”
The first real test of that demanding fixture schedule comes tomorrow when Everton, who returned from Split in the early hours of yesterday morning, visit Chelsea. But they face the champions full of confidence on the back of draws at Manchester City and Split.
After the international break comes a home game with Spurs and visit to Manchester United.
“It has been a good start for us,” said Sigurdsson. “We are still unbeaten but there are tough games coming up and the next three are very important.”
Sigurdsson has set the bar high with his Split stunner – but he hopes it will be the first of many.