Having negotiated a tricky third round encounter at Macclesfield Town, Everton have had to overcome Premier League opposition in neighbours Liverpool, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough to reach the semi-finals.

And Moyes said: “If we are good enough to get to the final it would be hard to say that we didn’t deserve to be there. We have a bit to do to get there.

“United are an outstanding team and we will need to play at our maximum to win, but we know that we can do it. We have beaten them in the past. We all want to finish the game saying that we have given everything. If they play the way they did against Liverpool and Aston Villa then I’ll be more than happy.

“Obviously it is great to be in a semi-final, we want to be in more, what we want to do is win. This isn’t our final. I’m saying it to our supporters. This is our semi-final.”

Moyes has revealed that he received a congratulatory phone call from United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after Everton eliminated Liverpool in the fourth round in February.

And the Goodison manager reckons it is an example of the dignity with which his fellow Scot treats other football as “an ambassador for football managers”.

“Yes, he phoned and said well done,” said Moyes. “He has a habit of doing that. I don’t have the time to pick up the phone and call the other managers in the league and say well done, so it tells you that he is thinking about other people.

“That is why he is an ambassador for football, but for the managers, because he carries his position with dignity. He wants to win for his club, and he would kick your granny to do that, and he would do anything to beat you, in the end he is someone who has feelings for other people.

“He says nice things about Everton, but I wonder if that is mind games. It could be the other way. He could be trying to soften us up a wee bit by saying nice things. Who knows?

“He is a one-off of his type, and maybe one of the best ever managers. The longer he stays, the more benefit we all get. The big thing for me is that he keeps doing his job, but just shares his trophies around a bit.”

With Brazilian striker Jo cup-tied, Moyes must decide whether to start with former United forward Louis Saha in attack or once again pair Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill as a makeshift strikeforce.

Saha has been nursed through a week of training after a stomach virus, and if he is named in the XI at Wembley it will be only his second start in 23 matches since November.