Leon Osman: Soul-destroying defeats will strive us on

Jul 9 2008 Ian Doyle

AMBITIOUS Leon Osman believes Everton can use their cup heartbreak of last season as a spur to end their long wait for silverware.

The Goodison outfit have not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 1995, when Joe Royle’s men shocked Manchester United 1-0 in the final.

Everton came their closest yet to banishing that barren run when they reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup last season before losing to Chelsea.

David Moyes’s side also enjoyed a lengthy run in the UEFA Cup, only for their dreams to be shattered by an agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Fiorentina.

A fifth-placed finish in the Premier League earned Everton a second successive European qualification and gave further reason for encouragement.

And midfielder Osman reckons the experience of the previous campaign has given Moyes’s men the taste for success.

"The aim at this moment in time is the same as it is every year, and that’s to win something," said Osman, who is currently at Everton’s week-long training camp in Switzerland.

"I’ve been at Everton Football Club for over half my life now and it would be fantastic to win something with the first team.

"We really thought we could do something last year and I was convinced that we’d win the Carling Cup, even after the first leg defeat against Chelsea in the semi-final. But it just wasn’t to be and the same goes for the UEFA Cup.

"When Mikel scored against Fiorentina at Goodison to bring the tie level on aggregate I couldn’t see any other outcome than an Everton victory.

"We were playing brilliantly and the atmosphere was incredible. I thought it was all set up for a memorable night.

"It was soul destroying but we’ve had a taste now and we’re looking forward to doing even better this time around.