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EVERTON FC: RUSSIANS IMPRESS OSMAN

/noticias.info/ Leon Osman believes Russia’s heroic displays in this summer’s European Championships are further indication of how far Everton progressed last season.

The Toffees came up against five of Gus Hiddink’s squad during their UEFA Cup campaign and won both the games in which those players featured.

Vyacheslav Malafeyev, Aleksandr Anyukov, Konstantin Zyryanov and Andrei Arshavin were all part of the Zenit St Petersburg side which succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park in December, while Ivan Saenko featured for Nurnburg when David Moyes’ side recorded a 2-0 victory in Germany.

Asides from Russia’s remarkable run to the semi-finals in Austria and Switzerland Zenit went on to lift the UEFA Cup and Osman says it shows Everton are ready to compete with the best sides around.

“There were a few in the [Russia] side from the teams we played and it just shows the quality of teams and the standard of players we were up against,” the midfielder told evertontv. “We came through all of those games with victories and that shows how good a team we’ve become.”

The 27-year-old knows the coming campaign will provide another opportunity for Everton to prove they can break into the Premier League's top four.

Last season, Moyes' men fell away at the death but Ossie believes Champions League qualification is a realistic target this time around.“If it wasn’t then there would be no point in us playing,” he said. “Every team are out there to improve themselves, even teams in the lower leagues. Everyone wants to get better and we’re no different. We finished fifth, the only way to aim is higher and fourth place is higher.”

For these targets to be realised Osman concedes the squad may have to be strengthened. Yet the lifelong Blue is in the same boat as all fans in that he relies on the newspapers for information.

He said: “I’m sure we’ll be no different to other teams and we’ll be looking to strengthen our squad.

“We’re always aiming for the next step, the next level. To reach that you need to strengthen your squad and any players we’re able to bring in will be welcomed with open arms, of course.

“Looking in the newspapers is the only way we find out as players though to be honest. We all have a read up and find out. You usually get a call from one of the other players telling you we’ve signed someone, so I’ll wait by the phone.”

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