Merlin Röhl treated Everton's 3-3 draw with Manchester City as a missed chance rather than the end of anything. That probably says most about where the squad still see this season. Everton are 10th with 48 points from 35 matches and only have three league games left, so the push is ambitious, but Röhl made it clear they are not backing away from it.

Röhl told liverpoolecho.co.uk: “Yeah, as a football team, we always reach for the best outcome. Even today, we are disappointed because we didn't get the win. The win would have helped us so much with our goal. But we try to win every game and look at the next game. We'll see how the situation is.”

That feels like the right reading of the night. A point against Manchester City is not a bad result in isolation, but Everton had enough of the game in their hands for this one to sting.

Why Everton still think Europe is possible

The reason the draw still carries weight is simple enough: Everton scored three goals in 14 second-half minutes against City. Teams who can do that against this level of opponent are allowed to think bigger than mid-table comfort.

The issue is that momentum has been hard to turn into results. Everton's recent league form is DLLDW, which explains why Röhl sounded disappointed rather than encouraged. A win here would have given the run-in real force.

There is also a more damaging pattern attached to the dropped points. Everton became the first team in Premier League history to concede a result-altering goal in the 90th minute or later in three consecutive matches. That does not wipe out the attacking side of the performance, but it does explain why the table still looks tight and why this chase remains difficult.

Even so, the belief inside the squad looks genuine. Röhl was not talking like a player settling for a decent draw. He was talking like someone who thinks the target is still there if Everton can clean up the last part of games and take more from the final three fixtures.

Röhl is talking like someone planning to stay

There was another message in his post-match comments. Röhl sounds increasingly comfortable at Everton, and the background to his move matters here.

His initial season-long loan from Freiburg contains an obligation to buy, with the deal understood to be worth around £18 million. That does not mean everything is officially complete yet, and Röhl himself stopped short of making any firm declaration, but his language hardly suggested uncertainty.

He told liverpoolecho.co.uk: “I'm happy to be at this club. I'm happy for every minute I get on this pitch. It's a really special club. We will see next season. But I'm really happy if I stay here and can make an impact like today.”

That is a sensible line from a player whose season has not been built on constant starts. Röhl has made 13 Premier League appearances and played 467 league minutes, so this has still been more of a squad role than a settled one. His comments matter because they reflect patience rather than frustration.

He also made his versatility clear, saying: “I'm here living my dream, playing for a great club, playing in the best league in the world and inside me, there's no need to only play in one position. I'm happy to be on the pitch, to play in front of these great supporters, in a great stadium. There's never a position I wouldn't play.”

That sort of attitude tends to keep players useful, especially at a club still trying to push upward rather than just hold position. If Everton do keep this European chase alive into the final days, they will need exactly that kind of squad buy-in.

The bigger point after the City game is that Röhl framed the draw in the same way the club need to frame it: frustrating, costly, but not final. Everton still have three matches to play, and Röhl sounds like a player expecting to be part of what comes next.

FAQ

Can Everton still qualify for Europe after drawing with Manchester City?

[Everton](club:everton) still believe it is possible. [Merlin Röhl](player:merlin-rohl) said the team are reaching for the best outcome and were disappointed not to beat [Manchester City](club:manchester-city) because the win would have helped their goal. Everton are 10th with 48 points from 35 matches and still have three league games left.

What did Merlin Röhl say about Everton's European push?

[Merlin Röhl](player:merlin-rohl) said: “Yeah, as a football team, we always reach for the best outcome.” He added that [Everton](club:everton) were disappointed not to win because it would have helped their goal, but said they will try to win every game and look at the next one.

Is Merlin Röhl staying at Everton next season?

It has not been confirmed yet, but Röhl sounded open to it. He said he is happy at the club and “really happy if I stay here and can make an impact like today.” His initial loan from Freiburg contains an obligation to buy, with the deal understood to be worth around £18 million.

Why was Everton's draw with Manchester City so frustrating?

[Everton](club:everton) scored three goals in 14 second-half minutes against [Manchester City](club:manchester-city) but still drew 3-3. The result also extended a damaging run, with Everton becoming the first team in Premier League history to concede a result-altering goal in the 90th minute or later in three consecutive matches.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →