Abdoulaye Doucoure is buzzing about the vibe at Everton right now, praising the togetherness in the squad and crediting David Moyes for sparking a real belief among the players. The midfielder’s been feeling the love from the manager, and it’s showing on the pitch.
The Toffees were gutted to leave Goodison with just a point on Saturday after a rollercoaster clash with Manchester United. Two-nil up thanks to Beto’s and Doucoure’s , Everton had the game in their grip. But Ruben Amorim’s Reds clawed their way back with two late strikes, and to top it off, a dramatic stoppage-time penalty call was chalked off by VAR in controversial fashion.
Speaking to evertontv after the final whistle, Doucoure didn’t hide his frustration: “We had the game under control, especially in the first half. We were on top until around the 70-minute mark when a slip-up let them back in from a free kick. It’s tough to swallow because we had our hearts set on the win. But that’s football—you dust yourself off and get ready for the next one.”
The overturned penalty decision left the squad scratching their heads. “It looked nailed on to us,” Doucoure said. “We couldn’t believe it got waved away. It’s one of those moments you’ve just got to accept and move on from, but it stings.”
Doucoure was a standout against United, bagging a goal and an assist in a lively return after sitting out the Palace win through suspension. Charly Alcaraz stepped up in his absence last week, also delivering a goal and assist, and Doucoure’s loving the healthy rivalry. “Carlos was brilliant,” he said. “It’s great to have that kind of competition pushing us all. Every time you get the chance, you’ve got to step up and show what you’re about.”
The 32-year-old’s clearly thriving under Moyes. “The boss has given me so much belief since he arrived,” Doucoure explained. “That confidence he’s put in me—I feel it every time I’m out there, and I want to repay him. Physically, I’m in a good place, and the spirit around the club is fantastic. The manager’s got this calm way about him that really suits me. I’m playing well, and I just want to keep the momentum going right through to the end of the season.”
Everton’s unbeaten streak in the Premier League stretched to six games with Saturday’s draw, and the lads are brimming with optimism heading into Wednesday’s trip to Brentford (7.30pm GMT). “We’re going into every match believing we’ll score,” Doucoure said. “You saw it again today—we’re creating chances for fun. We could’ve had more goals, and keeping this unbeaten run alive is massive for us. Let’s kick on and see how far we can take it.”