Everton FC hoping for Premier League International Cup recall for 2016
Blues u-21s face wait to see if they have made quarter-finals but hope to play in next year's competition regardless
Youth team coach David Unsworth
Everton under-21s will have to wait until nearly Christmas to discover their Premier League International Cup fate.
But even if they don’t qualify for the quarter-finals, coach David Unsworth hopes they retain their place in next year’s competition.
Everton lost 3-2 at home to Porto B on Sunday at Goodison to finish their Group B campaign with three points from their three games.
After seeing off Spurs 4-1, Everton lost 1-0 to Schalke and then fell to Porto on Sunday.
But the Blues can still make the last eight of the competition by finishing second in their group - if Spurs lose to Porto on December 23.
Unsworth would relish the opportunity to play more games in the International Cup but says he just hopes they are back in the competition in 2016.
“It was a good game and this is a competition we’ve really enjoyed being in,” Unsworth told the ECHO.
“And to have played Porto, a really good team, our lads know that they can compete against that.
“It’s out of our hands but we love this competition, it’s great and hopefully we’ll be in it next year.”
Everton reduced the deficit with 15 minutes left but conceded a third when Ismael Leon scored a penalty.
But Harry Charsley’s goal, four minutes from time, set up a frantic finish as the Blues chased an equaliser.
“We knew they were a good side and we did some work on them and knew what they were all about,” Unsworth said.
“I asked the lads to play in a certain way and they didn’t do it.
“In the second-half they did and we showed what we are all about.
“Like at any level if you give a good team a two goal start then it is going to be an uphill battle but it was a challenge we took on and it looked like we were going to take something out of the game.
Blue Christmas as Everton FC under 21 players along with their coach David Unsworth drop into the Pitz Soccer centre Liverpool. They called into surprise volunteer Lee Johnson who does coaching sessions for people at the Whitechapel Centre. Lee pictured with David plus Denise Barrett-Baxendale from EFC.
“Antony Evans had a great chance at the end and could’ve got us a point from it - and we would’ve deserved that.
“We were the better team in the second-half but Porto were the better team in the first-half.
“We gave them too much respect and let them dominate us, when we’d spoke about us doing that. We knew where they were susceptible in areas but sat off them and allowed them to play.
“We allowed them to get on the ball too easily.”
He added: “I hate losing, I’m the world’s worst loser but it’s not the be all and end all.
“When you say that, it sometimes comes across like you don’t care about winning but let me assure you, it does and it does to our players - and they showed that in the second-half.
“But they have to learn quickly that you can’t give good teams leads.”
Phil Kirkbride / Echo
