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Everton’s Leon Osman, everyone’s favourite unsung hero, one-club player and local boy made good, has just been granted a testimonial after 10 years in the first team. The plan is to arrange a fixture shortly before the start of next season, and Osman already knows that children’s charities Claire House and Make-A-Wish are the good causes he would like to support, but there is a slight problem setting a date. Everton need to find out whether they will be involved in a Champions League qualifying round first. |
Osman was around for Everton’s last Champions League adventure, when they were not only unlucky enough to end up with a pre-qualifier against against Manuel Pellegrini’s Villarreal but also fell foul of the last controversial decision of Pierluigi Collina’s illustrious refereeing career when a valid Duncan Ferguson goal was disallowed.
Getting another chance to take on Europe’s elite would mean a lot to the 32 year old Osman, who reckons Everton are better equipped to make a go of it under Roberto Martnez, but, like his testimonial, it all depends on finishing above Arsenal in the Premier League. Today’s opponents, the midfielder insists, are still favourites to finish fourth whatever the result at Goodison this afternoon. “We were unfortunate in what happened with Villarreal, but you are going to get tough games if you qualify for the Champions League,” he says. “We haven’t done that yet, we can’t even begin to dream about that type of game until we qualify.
“Even if we win against Arsenal we still have to try to finish above them in the league. At the moment they are in a stronger position than we are. Arsenal are four points ahead so we are outsiders. If we’ve got genuine aspirations about overtaking them then we have got to win this game.”
Everton earned a creditable draw at the Emirates in December, four days after Martnez supervised the victory at Old Trafford that confirmed he was capable of taking the club forward. Whether Martnez can fulfil his pre-season promise to Bill Kenwright of leading Everton into the Champions League remains to be seen, but on limited resources he has taken his side closer than many thought possible. His assured handling of a move upwards and the almost seamless way he has transformed Everton’s outlook has impressed several bigger clubs, including Arsenal, and Osman is as much a fan as anyone.
“I’m not going to say I didn’t enjoy my time playing under David Moyes because I always enjoyed playing for Everton,” he says. “But any footballer will tell you it is a lot more enjoyable having the ball than not having it. Ultimately it is about winning games and you could be without the ball for 89 minutes, score a goal and be happier than if you had the ball and lost.
“Football is a results business and we used to be about getting results, but if you can put the two together, retain possession and still win games, that is more enjoyable. We have taken that next step. This season we are a possession team whether we win or lose. We live and die by that at the moment, that’s why I think we might do better in the Champions League if we are able to qualify.”
