“In the 1980s Everton had great teams and I think we’re getting a lot closer.”

Moyes added: “It’s a bigger challenge but sometimes all you can ask is that people take that into consideration. When you cross the white line I wasn’t thinking about Chelsea’s players being bought for how many millions more than ours or us being less.

“That’s what we are and when I came into the job I was aware of it and it hasn’t changed. The group of players has got better at Everton and that gives us all great hope. I’m definitely happy to continue like that. If I can do it, maybe we can keep the players rising – I want the focus to go on the players because I think they’re the ones who have done really well this season. I know they’ll be disappointed with this loss but I want them to be reminded that they’ve done really well.”

As well as having to compete against the riches of the ‘big four’ Moyes has also seen several of his other Premier League rivals receive cash injections from overseas.

However, with his good working relationship with Goodison chairman Bill Kenwright, a lifelong Evertonian, well-documented, Moyes is comfortable with the current set-up at Goodison Park which he believes other clubs could also look to.

He said: “There’s a lot to be said for having a chairman who is a supporter. Let’s be fair, you know what you’re dealing with, you know what it’s about and I think in years to come we’ll all be saying there was a bit of a fashion at this moment in time of having somebody from wherever but let’s get back to the basics of having people who love their clubs and love their football team and that may be the way in the future.

“For us, we’ve got it and that’s the way I work.”