David Moyes on Grealish, Maitland-Niles and Everton’s ambition after draw with Man Utd | OneFootball

Everton manager David Moyes says he believes Everton can be a club with ambition, heaping praise on the club’s new signings despite recent backlash about their summer business. 

Speaking after the Toffees’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United, where debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles netted a long-range 96th-minute equaliser, the Toffees boss was pleased his side were able to snatch a point after a week of turmoil at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

“It was a big moment to get back in the last minute, a brilliant goal and a big moment for the crowd,” Moyes said. 

“I want us to be a club that is building, ambitious, and can aim to challenge the top teams, so Everton supporters are thinking that we are going into these games with a chance.

“We lost unluckily to Manchester United here last season and beat them at Old Trafford, and I want us to show all of the big teams that we are competitive.”

The match followed widespread angst from within the Everton fanbase, following a transfer deadline day where winger Iliman Ndaiye was sold to Manchester City for a deal worth £65million and a move for AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun fell through in the final hours. 

Everton, though, did sign seven players across the transfer window, with both Maitland-Niles and Tyrique George, scorer of their first, signed over the summer months. 

“If nobody knew you that will get you plenty of headlines,” Moyes said of Maitland-Niles, who joined from Lyon on Monday. “We have not really had a chance to get to know him, but he got his opportunity and it will still take a bit of time (for him to adapt).”

The match also saw Jack Grealish come off the bench in his first appearance since re-joining Everton on loan from Manchester City, after appearing 22 times and scoring twice on loan last campaign. 

“He kept the ball very well and made some very good passes through,” Moyes said. “He is someone who the crowd here love and he has not played for six months after a foot injury, so we have to find a way to get him fit.

“Jack just wants to be involved in football all the time and he gives us something else in that he can ball carry and retain the ball, so hopefully we can get him into top form.”