Ukraine leg holds no fear for Jagielka

, 10 March, 27comments  |  Jump to most recent
Phil Jagielka has dismissed suggestions that Everton need to win Thursday's home leg against Dynamo Kyiv if they are to progress to the quarter finals of the Europa League.

The skipper is under no illusions about the threat posed by the Ukrainian league leaders but he doesn't agree with the view of some commentators that the Blues will need to take a first-leg lead when they travel to the away game in 9 days' time.

Everton have already recorded impressive away wins in Wolfsburg and Young Boys in the Europa League this season and that, combined with Jagielka's own experiences of the Uefa Cup trip to Kharkiv in 2007 and of playing in Ukraine's National Stadium for England, makes him confident that the team can get a result if needed in the second leg.

“We know we can go out and beat anyone on our day, so it is how we manage the tie," he says in the Liverpool Echo. “I can't see us going out to play for a 0-0 on Thursday but at the same time we've got to be careful we don't end up in a 5-4 game, or something. There's plenty to think about but we've played pretty well in Europe so far and hopefully we can continue.

“[Metalist] Kharkiv was a really difficult tie and at home we probably could've put it to bed.

“But I've been to Kiev's stadium and when we played in the Euros we played in Ukraine. It is going to be a tough tie but we need to concentrate on the first one, do a professional job and hopefully tee ourselves up well.

“But there isn't a thought process that we need to have the tie pretty much won at home.”

 

Reader Comments (27)

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Sami Fam
1 Posted 10/03/2015 at 18:19:14
"but at the same time we've got to be careful we don't end up in a 5-4 game, or something".......good point; make sure you lock Tim Howard up in the locker room.
Paul Burns
2 Posted 10/03/2015 at 18:51:26
Right. ItÂ’s a two-legged tie and weÂ’re capable of scoring and winning over there. Show no fear.
Ian Brandes
3 Posted 10/03/2015 at 19:16:28
I always liked Jags as a player, not so much a leader on the field though...

And I am beginning to wonder whether RM delusions are catching, with this 'We can beat anyone on our day' kind of statement.

Last season, I would have agreed, but this season, enough said.

We need a very big lead to take to Ukraine, especially if Taliban Tim is in goal.

Hoping for the best anyway. As fans, we are due a fantastic result. Let us hope we get one!

Mike Childs
4 Posted 10/03/2015 at 19:30:13
God pray for our club.
Bill Griffiths
5 Posted 10/03/2015 at 19:35:57
Obviously it's not an easy tie but so far in Europe we've looked pretty good so let's hope we get more of the same.
Andy Crooks
6 Posted 10/03/2015 at 19:44:17
Our captain dismisses suggestions that we need to win on Thursday. God almighty.
Breandan Clarke
7 Posted 10/03/2015 at 19:50:46
Pretty misleading and fairly poor considering the quotes say nothing of the sort.

Having the whole tie won on Thursday is different to winning on Thursday.

Eugene Ruane
8 Posted 10/03/2015 at 19:59:03
Agree Brendan (7) very Echo.

"MARRIED BISHOP IN MODEL SENSATION!!"

'Mr Eric Bishop, a local Airfix model enthusiast, yesterday won 4th prize at the Woolton fete for his Flying Fortress'

Phil Sammon
9 Posted 10/03/2015 at 19:49:26
The sort of nondescript comments that wouldn't so much as raise an eyebrow if we were performing well. Not the case right now though and I see some people venting their frustration in Jagielka's direction.
Andy Meighan
10 Posted 10/03/2015 at 20:21:06
On our day, we know we can beat anyone. Yes, Philip, love – of course we can!
Mark Frere
11 Posted 10/03/2015 at 20:26:57
Who gives a fuck what the players say! I've heard players in the past talking up our chances before big games then failing miserably on the day. Iv'e also heard players being more pragmatic before a game... but at the end of the day, all of it is just mere 'talk'.

By all means, do all your tedious media interviews, but actions speak much louder than words. Just get the job done on the pitch and give us something positive to cheer from this dreadful season.

Sean Kelly
12 Posted 10/03/2015 at 20:53:03
More claptrap from the Martinez media room. Time and time again the players roll out to the media talking shite. IÂ’m tired of it. Who is next out?
Oscar Huglin
13 Posted 10/03/2015 at 21:35:03
He's only saying it's not essential that we win on Thursday, which is true. Some of you are painting it like he's crying to the tabloids that we can't possibly beat them at L4. It's ridiculous.

We could very realistically draw at home and win the tie in Ukraine. Stop finding ways to pick where there aren't any.

I'm really starting to worry about the comments I see on these threads. We need to get behind the team, not criticise them at every turn. Otherwise we'll become the next Newcastle.

Mark Andersson
14 Posted 10/03/2015 at 23:51:38
Like our manager, I have switched off from anything that the players say. It's like they have been briefed by Martinez to come out with these statements.

Personally I hope we win the first leg, even though it prolongs the agony of RM still at the helm. Good luck to anyone going to the game, get behind the team, think positive, and enjoy another emphatic win.

Minik Hansen
15 Posted 11/03/2015 at 01:58:23
Putting the pressure off, that's all. Now let's all show up on Thursday and make our home tie count! COYB.
Ken Williams
16 Posted 11/03/2015 at 12:03:42
Just more media sound bites.

As has already been said, do the business on the field. Not just on Thursday, more importantly at the weekend.....

Alan McMillan
17 Posted 11/03/2015 at 12:26:14
Ian #3 - Taliban Tim - nearly choked on my sandwich. :-)!!

Jay Wood
18 Posted 11/03/2015 at 12:31:48
Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

How many criticising every utterance issued by the club and its employees would be equally outraged if they imposed a blanket media ban and ’shut the feck up’ as some have demanded?

Clubs, managers and players have a contractual obligation to speak to the media. Whilst I seek out and like to read statements and stories related to and emanating from Everton, I don’t give too much weight or try to over speculate or contrive deep conspracy theories to such utterances.

Any one looking for stirring Churchillian or Abe Lincoln like rhetoric from almost anyone and everyone working in professional footballer are more likely to see a telling, incisive forward pass from Everton’s static midfield first.

That said, Joe Royle coined a nice phrase now and then:

"Cry havoc! Let slip the dogs of war!"

Or... am I confusing him with Shakespeare’s Julius Cesar..?

Paul Turner
19 Posted 11/03/2015 at 17:09:51
No Jay, you're confusing him with Will's Henry V.
Max Murphy
20 Posted 11/03/2015 at 17:16:26
Ian (#3) I hear Taliban Tim (brilliant) was chucked out because he couldn't save Bin Laden. Now he's joined the I(ncredibly) S(hite) mob.
Christopher Wallace
21 Posted 11/03/2015 at 18:24:59
Yarmolenko and Belhanda both got straight reds in Kyiv's first leg with Guingamp – anyone know if they are banned for 1,2 or 3 games?

Undoubtedly their best 2 attacking players, so it would be a big plus if they missed either/both games...

Peter Bell
22 Posted 11/03/2015 at 19:30:08
Yarmolenko returns after his 3-game ban was reduced to one but Belhanda's 3-match ban stands and he misses both legs.
Christopher Wallace
23 Posted 11/03/2015 at 22:25:22
Thanks Peter. Yarmolenko is pacy and more of a goal threat, but Belhanda pulls the strings and makes them tick – big miss for them.
Harold Matthews
24 Posted 12/03/2015 at 02:25:16
"We've got to be careful" Translation; "Sideways and back".
Jay Wood
25 Posted 12/03/2015 at 16:42:12
@ Paul 19 ... It’s a common error and I’d prefer it to be Henry V’s rallying cry at Agincourt on St Crispen’s Day, but that concluded:

"Cry ’God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’

"Cry ’Havoc!’, and let slip the dogs of war" is definitely from Julius Cesar (Act 3, Scene 1, line 273), part of Mark Anthony’s promise to the corpse of Julius Cesar after being assassinated.

I studied and performed in the play at school and even today, more than 40 years on, I can still quote whole chunks of it.

Patrick Murphy
26 Posted 12/03/2015 at 17:44:41
A slight variation from Henry V

In Europe there’s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of relegation blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger.
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour’d rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;

Brent Stephens
27 Posted 12/03/2015 at 17:55:50
Stiffening the sinews as you post, Patrick. Off to the game soon. I fear it will be a quiet night. Ticket sales not great.

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