Phil Neville reveals how David Moyes forced players to concentrate on their game

It was a much-needed triumph following a testing week both on and off the field for Everton in which they were humbled 2-0 by Chicago Fire.

And skipper Neville admits Everton's players were told by Moyes in the aftermath of that hugely disappointing defeat to stop feeling sorry themselves and knuckle down with the start of the season less than a fortnight away.

"The manager wasn't happy after the Chicago game," said Neville. "Two days later, when we got back to some serious training, he let us be known in no uncertain terms that the season is only two weeks away.

"He told us that we had to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, stop thinking about who we're going to bring in, stop thinking about everything else that is going on and to just get on with playing football.

"We can't do anything about what's happening with transfers and the other speculation. All we can do is play football and, apart from Lee Carsley, it's the same starting XI that was here last season, so we have no excuses."

Those same players are now certain to start the campaign with Moyes having admitted there is little time for any arrivals to integrate before the season opener at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday week.

And Neville added: "A couple of new players now would give us all a big lift. But if that doesn't happen, then we've still got a big enough squad to go into the start of the season.

"If somebody comes in from abroad, then it'll take him more than a few weeks to settle in.

"Even if they are from England, who knows how long it will take for them to learn our system and the other players?

"It takes time for anybody to bed in. The players who are playing at the moment are going to be the ones who start against Blackburn."

Of the victory over the Rapids, Neville added: "They say results don't matter in pre-season but they do in a way.

"There's been a little bit of negativity surrounding the club this week.

"The team has realised in the last few days that the season is now just two weeks away and we need to hit the ground running.

"This was more like it. We played against a very fit team, and for large parts of the game we did well."