Toffees ready for next level

Cape Town - Everton defender Leighton Baines insists the Toffees are ready for the next level of football and can hold their own in the Champions League.

Baines believes his side are ready to step up, and that their style of football will suit the competition perfectly.

Everton can claim a spot in Europe’s elite competition if they manage to go all the way and win the Europa League this season. A win at home to French side Lille tonight will prove vital in this endeavor.

"We are trying to develop our style into a way that isn't limited,” Baines told the Daily Star.

"So there's no ceiling to it if we continue to improve on what we do, and we know we have still got to do that. And then if we go on to the Champions League, it would be well suited that level of football.

"We are all working towards bumping our levels up and getting to that level where we know what we are as a minimum. We've got to work to ensure we have it [European football] next season too.

"We want to keep playing at that level and be a part of something bigger - to go onto that next level of football as well. That's the motivation; Champions League and silverware.

"We'd like to excite the fans even further if we can."