Everton forward Richarlison has spoken about the fight for European football next season and says the crowd will be “sorely missed” as the rest of the season will be played behind-closed-doors.
Although Carlo Ancelotti’s side currently sit in the bottom half of the table, they are still only six points away from Sheffield United, in seventh, and finishing in the top seven could guarantee European qualification for next season.
Richarlison, who has started in 32 of Everton's 34 games in all competitions this season, believes the team have to “keep the flame burning” and pick up positive results in their final nine games.
Richarlison aiming for European qualification for Toffees
The Brazilian forward, who signed from Watford in 2018, has been used more as an out-and-out striker under Ancelotti and has scored 10 league goals this season, which he’ll be looking to add to.
Richarlison has been capped 19 times for his country and the 23-year-old is determined to finish the season strongly and secure European football at Goodison Park.
“I think a lot can happen in nine games, the teams are very close in the table and instead of looking back and searching for mistakes, I prefer to think about the games ahead of us,” Richarlison told the club website.
“We want to have as many good results as possible to, who knows, enter the fight for a place in a continental tournament. We have to keep that flame burning.
“The last time I played without fans was on the street in my home city. But it is a new reality because of the pandemic and we have to adapt to it.
“The crowd will certainly be sorely missed, but we understand it is for everyone’s safety and for this horrible situation to end as soon as possible.”
Everton return to action next weekend, for the first time in over three months, when they take on Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who could secure their first Premier League title next Sunday.