Idrissa Gueye insists Everton must ‘keep calm’ in their bid for European football.
Saturday’s win over Chelsea saw David Moyes’ side remain in the mix as they moved within three points of a possible Champions League qualification spot.
The Blues take on fellow continental hopefuls Brentford after the international break before welcoming Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
But while supporters are dreaming of a long-awaited shot at Europe’s elite, Gueye has sounded a note of caution as the season prepares to enter the home straight.
He said: “We just need to keep calm.
“We just enjoy playing football and winning games and we will see at the end of the season.
“We really played good as a team [against Chelsea[. We stayed calm with the ball and we defended very well and we needed this win at home because [of] our fans.
“They were behind us, and they pushed us to win this game, and 3-0 without conceding a goal is very good for us and for the team.”
Everton were given a rapturous reception on their arrival at Bramley-Moore Dock with fan group The 1878s organising the first coach welcome at their new home.
The vibrant atmosphere extended into the stadium as its hosts condemned Liam Rosenior’s struggling side to their fourth straight defeat in all competitions.
It also marked Everton’s first back-to-back Premier League home victories, something which Gueye believes is key to maintaining their current momentum.
“Unbelievable,” reflected the midfielder on the Chelsea atmosphere.
“We just need to keep going in this way because (playing at the) new stadium it was not going well the last few games.
“But the last game we won, and [on Saturday] we won again, so hopefully we continue like that.
“Because we follow the advice from the staff and the manager gave us confidence, and he said to us before the game, ‘We really need to start playing like home today,’.
“I think the last game we did here [against Burnley] gave us more confidence.
“We went on the pitch (on Saturday) and we played as a team. We defend like a team, and that is what we need.
“We try to bring the club where the club deserves to be. The last year was not really good for the team, but now we start going forward and that is what Everton need.”
Gueye’s involvement against the Londoners marked his first game since Senegal saw their Africa Cup of Nations title controversially awarded to hosts Morocco.
“I think this decision is just ridiculous,” he admitted.
“We win the game on the pitch not in offices and as a Senegalese player I’m just proud of what we did in the African Cup of Nations.
“People who take this decision they are maybe against Africa, because Africa doesn’t need this type of decision.
“We deserve this trophy; we fight on the pitch and everyone knows what happened and I think if you play 10 times this game we would win it 10 times.
“Not because we are better than Morocco but because it was our destiny because we gave everything on the pitch and we deserve to be champions.”
Despite the dispute over the final, Gueye insists that he harbours no animosity and has even joked about giving his medal to Moroccan teammate Adam Aznou.
He added: “We just laugh about this because sometimes it’s funny.
“I said to him next time I will bring the medal [in] for him. We are all brothers and no-one can push me to hate Morocco’s people.
“Morocco and Senegal have a good relationship.”