Everton can't give up on Champions League, says Louis Saha
LOUIS SAHA believes Everton have the quality to finish the season with a flourish and press for Champions League qualification and a place in the FA Cup final.
David Moyes's side face a hectic run-in when they return from this week's international break.
The Goodison outfit are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal with eight games remaining, and face Manchester United in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on April 19.
Saha is hopeful he has now recovered from a troublesome hamstring problem having started his first game in almost four months in the 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth 10 days ago.
It was only Everton's second loss in their last 19 games, and Saha reckons that fine run of form means Moyes's men cannot give up on Champions League qualification.
"I feel good and just hope I can finish the season now," said the striker. "Everyone has understood the need to adapt and that has been encouraging to see. Now it's just a matter of keeping things going until the last game.
"I always feel that if you've got the quality, you should look a bit further. Then if you can't reach your goal, you can't reach it but the main thing is to try until the possibility has gone.
"It will be harder for us to reach the Champions League places because we have lost some big players. When you lose players like Arteta, Yakubu and Anichebe, it makes it harder as they are all very important team players.
"Everyone's got a key role to play for the rest of the season and I hope I can bring my experience and some goals to the team.
"Every player has a responsibility to keep the good run going. It's going to be a huge task but we are playing well enough to get points so let's have a go at it."
Saha admits it will be a "dream" to reach the FA Cup final after missing out three times
His Fulham team were beaten by Chelsea in the semi-final in 2002, he was injured for United's final defeat against Arsenal in 2005 and was overlooked for the 2007 Wembley showpiece against Chelsea.
"I have missed a couple of finals so far and I would like to participate in such a big occasion," added the France international. "I dream about it and I do think we do have a chance.
"It's always hard to look back on games like the Fulham v Chelsea tie in 2002 when it was only a semi-final.
"I don't remember that as a huge game because we didn't win it. It's nice to go far in the competition but the main thing is having the trophy at the end."
Meanwhile, Everton's game at Aston Villa on Sunday, April 12 will now kick-off at 2pm.
Tickets are still available for Everton's home Premier League clash against Wigan Athletic on Sunday.
The club is urging fans who want to purchase tickets for the game to visit evertonfc.com.
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