Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has said the club should take domestic cups seriously as they look to end their silverware drought, and he has backed himself to win a penalty shoot-out against England captain Harry Kane.
Cup run and Premier League form
Pickford, who joined Everton from Sunderland for £25million in 2017, has helped David Moyes' side to back-to-back wins over Newcastle United. Thierno Barry's strike secured a first Premier League victory of the season on Monday, following a 3-1 Carabao Cup win at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday.
That result set up a trip to Fleetwood Town next month, with the League Two outfit standing between Everton and a first semi-final appearance since 2015/16.
Chasing silverware
Pickford is now the only member of the England side that played in the last European Championship final not to have won a major trophy. Asked by lifelong Evertonian Roger Bennett of Men in Blazers whether lifting a cup would be important, he said: "It does matter, the club is crying out for success."
"We go into every season wanting to win a trophy. I think we all know over the last few years, how difficult it has been to stay in the Premier League but now we've got some stability at the club, I think it's that next step," he added.
"Everyone wants to win the league. Everyone wants to win every game when they're playing, but you've got to be realistic. We know for us as players it's 'How do we get into Europe? How do we lift silverware?' We've got one chance to win the Premier League, and the next level is trying to get into Europe. You've got two opportunities to win silverware, and you've got to take them seriously."
Ballon d'Or and penalty shoot-out
Pickford said it was great to see his international teammate Harry Kane of Bayern Munich win the Ballon d'Or. "I was screaming at the telly! I was buzzing for him," he said.
"I've not really watched it over the years because every time it was either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. So, it was half irrelevant. But this year it was quite intriguing. It could have been Harry, Lamine Yamal or Kylian Mbappe, so for me it was quite interesting to watch, seeing their stories and when they've won stuff, talking about where they've come from and how much hard work they've had to put in."
Asked by Bennett if he would fancy his chances against Kane in a penalty shoot-out, Pickford said: "I'd back myself to win 5-4 because I won't miss one and I'd fancy myself saving one against him."
On the hypothetical scenario of 11 Pickfords against 11 versions of Jack Grealish, the 32-year-old said: "I've got to back myself, haven't I? 11 Jordan Pickfords would be getting carried out of the stadium, the legs would be fatigued shall we say? But I'd back myself in the sense of my left foot scoring against Jack Grealish in goal. It would be relatively easy."
