• ‘From the start Sporting got a grip of the game’
• Pedro Mendes says his side’s win was much needed
David Moyes admitted his side were second best as they crashed out of the Europa League in a 3-0 defeat at Sporting Lisbon.
The Everton manager conceded that the Portuguese side were in control from the start as they overcame a 2-1 deficit from the first leg at Goodison Park.
“We didn’t play well enough,” Moyes said. “From the start Sporting got a grip of the game, put us under pressure. I thought we’d weathered it before half-time but we never caused them enough problems.”
Sporting’s midfielder Pedro Mendes, who scored the home side’s second goal on the night, also felt they warranted their place in the next round.
It needed Miguel Veloso’s 64th-minute goal to bring them level in the tie but further goals from Mendes and Matías Fernández sealed progress for the Portuguese side to book a tie with Atlético Madrid.
“We needed this win,” the former Portsmouth and Rangers midfielder Mendes said. “We wanted to progress in this competition. I think we performed really well in the first leg, we were unlucky with the result.
“Today we did what the gaffer asked – patience. We knew we couldn’t concede or it would be very tough for us. We’ve been a little unlucky [recently]. It’s exactly the same in the league here; we’ve been struggling for results. We needed this performance today.”
Uefa Europa LeagueEvertonDavid MoyesSporting Lisbonguardian.co.uk
