Europa League: Eto’o Satisfied as Everton Earn Valuable Point in Lille
By BBC Sport | Europa League | Group Stage
Everton and Lille played out a goalless draw on Thursday night in the third round of Europa League group stage fixtures — a result that keeps the Merseyside club firmly at the top of their group.
Although the match at Stade Pierre-Mauroy lacked goals, Everton left France with a crucial away point, a result that veteran forward Samuel Eto’o sees as a positive step in the club’s European campaign.
“An away point is positive, even if we could have scored towards the end,” Eto’o told beIN SPORTS. “Lille gave us the opportunity to do so. A point is not bad — we’ll see how the competition continues.”
Eto’o, who brings both experience and leadership to Roberto Martínez’s side, acknowledged that while Everton might have snatched victory late on, the draw still strengthens their position in the group.
The Cameroonian also spoke candidly about the team’s inconsistent form in the Premier League this season, admitting that early performances were encouraging but lacked maturity.
“We played very well at the start of the season but we were very naive, like against Arsenal (2-2) or Chelsea (3-6),” he said. “What’s past is past — we have to look to the future.”
Everton remain unbeaten in their Europa League campaign so far, with the point in Lille adding to their tally as they aim to progress comfortably to the knockout rounds. The focus now shifts back to domestic competition, where Martínez will look to tighten the defence and build on the momentum gained in Europe.
With fixtures coming thick and fast, Eto’o’s influence — both on the pitch and in the dressing room — could prove vital in steering Everton through a demanding season on multiple fronts.
