Moyes delighted to avoid any long-haul flights in UEFA Cup

Dec 22 2007 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON manager David Moyes was just relieved not to get a long haul trip after his side were drawn against Norwegians Brann in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

The club faced an arduous journey to Ukraine in the last knockout round ahead of the group stage when they travelled to Metalist Kharkiv so the relatively short journey to Bergen satisfies Moyes.

He said: “I’m pleased enough with the draw but I couldn’t tell you if it’s a good one or a bad one.

“The good thing is that it’s not too far to go, it’s not an outrageous distance.”

Brann only won one of their four matches in Group D, qualifying behind Hamburg and Basel but before he takes a closer look at his next European opponents, Moyes is focusing on Everton’s hectic domestic campaign over the next fortnight.

He said: “It’s nice to be able to put it to one side for now. There’s a real buzz of anticipation about the games coming up (over the busy holiday period) and hopefully that will keep us going as it’s tough over Christmas time. We’ve got the top sides (Manchester United and Arsenal) either side of Christmas then the FA Cup third round and Carling Cup semi-final in the New Year.”

Everton will play the first leg in Bergen on the week of February 14 with the return match at Goodison on the week of February 22.

If Everton progress to the last 16 they will face the winners of Rosenborg, again from Norway, and Fiorentina of Italy on March 6/13.

THE draws for the last 32 and last 16 of the UEFA Cup are as follows: Round of 32: Aberdeen v Bayern Munich, AEK Athens v Getafe, Bolton v Athletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersberg v Villarreal, Galatasaray v Bayer Leverkusen, Anderlecht v Bordeaux, SK Brann v Everton, FC Zurich v Hamburg, Rangers v Panathinaikos, PSV Eindhoven v Helsingborgs, Slavia Prague v Tottenham, Rosenborg v Fiorentina, Sporting v Basel, Werder Bremen v Braga, Benfica v Nurnberg, Marseille v Spartak Moscow. Games to be played: 13, 14 and 20 Feb. Round of 16: Anderlecht/Bordeaux v Aberdeen/Bayern Munich, Rangers/Panathinaikos v Werder Bremen/Braga, Bolton/Athletico Madrid v Sporting/Basel, Galatasaray/Bayer Leverkusen v FC Zurich/Hamburg, AEK Athens/Getafe v Benfica/Nurnberg, Rosenborg/Fiorentina v SK Brann/Everton, Slavia Prague/Tottenham v PSV Eindhoven/Helsingborgs, Marseille/Spartak Moscow v Zenit St Petersberg/Villarreal. Games to be played: Games to be played: 6, 12 and 13 of March.