Everton - Blackburn Carling Cup

By: 21 | September 24th, 2008

The Toffees match-up in the Carling Cup against Blackburn is sounding like it will be a great match.

In speaking to the BBC, Leon Osman said:

“We’ll be going into this match really positively and wanting to win the game.

“Last year we got to the semi-finals and we really enjoyed it and we want to go a step closer this year.

Everton is reporting no new injuries with the exception of Mikel Arteta who will miss the match due to an illness while Blackburn will be weighed down with the addition of David Dunn, Benni McCarthy, Vince Grella, Steven Reid and Aaron Mokoena to the infirmary as well as Keith Andrews who is cup-tied.

Everton assistant manager Steve Round who hoisted the Cup whilst at Middlesbrough noted:

“To get through the Carling Cup is very important to the Club. I’ve won it as a coach with another club so I know what it means. It’s a big competition and we’ll take it very seriously.”

“I think winning any trophy at the moment is a major achievement. There’s a little bit of fate in it; if your name’s on the trophy it will happen.”

“But if you’re going to go and win a cup now, you’re going to have to overcome one or two, or even three, of the big teams along the way. Wwhen you look at the top clubs out there at the moment and what they’re spending to achieve success, for a club like Everton to win a trophy would be a big achievement. It’s certainly something we’re capable of and something we’ve really got ambition to do.”

“When players win a trophy they see themselves in a different light. You see yourself as a major winner and you can then push on to the next level.”