MusaDavid Moyes refused to reveal further details surrounding Jack Grealish’s disciplinary absence after Everton secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, although the Toffees manager was full of praise for the players who stepped up in his absence.
Everton confirmed shortly before kick-off that the Manchester City loanee had been excluded from the matchday squad because of a breach of club discipline. The Liverpool Echo understands that the decision followed Grealish’s failure to attend a scheduled training session.
With the incident attracting considerable attention ahead of the Newcastle encounter, Moyes was asked to explain the circumstances behind the winger’s omission.
However, the Everton manager made it clear that he had no intention of discussing the matter publicly.
“You probably know I am not going to give any details. It is a club decision and I support it,” Moyes said.
When questioned about whether he felt disappointed by the actions of Grealish, who became the first English footballer to command a £100million transfer fee, the 63-year-old remained equally reserved.
“It is something I don’t want to speak too much about,” he added.
Despite the distraction surrounding the former Manchester City star, Everton produced an impressive performance to overcome Newcastle, with James Garner, Hayden Hackney and Thierno Barry finding the net to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Moyes was particularly pleased with the way his remaining players handled the situation, insisting that the club’s values and collective mentality played an important role in ensuring Grealish’s absence did not affect the team.
“The one thing about Everton is that they have got real good values, all the players stand behind it and accept the values, on the pitch and off the pitch. I think the players did a good job tonight, it is a small squad but we are doing our best to keep challenging.
“It was a tough game but I think the Premier League is like this, games are quite close, you can be defending for 20 minutes and then attacking. We got the goals at good times, the third goal killed the game off but really pleased to get through, you can talk about cup games, the only thing that really matters is you want to get through.”
The victory also secured Everton a favourable-looking quarter-final meeting with League Two side Fleetwood Town, raising questions about whether the possibility of reaching the semi-finals had provided additional motivation for Moyes’ players.
However, the Scottish manager insisted that he had not used the prospect of facing lower-league opposition as an incentive before the match, stressing that Newcastle represented a difficult challenge in their own right.
“I didn’t phrase it that way and say anything to the players at all. This was a big Premier League game really and trying to win any isn’t easy.
“What we have next you have to take in your stride. Anyone who beats Arsenal is doing a good job.”
Moyes’ comments suggest that his immediate focus remains on maintaining Everton’s standards and ensuring the entire squad understands the expectations placed upon them.
While the manager was unwilling to discuss Grealish’s disciplinary situation in detail, his emphasis on the club’s values and collective responsibility offered a clear indication of the standards he expects from every player at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Musa
