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Cape Town - Everton
manager Ronald Koeman said that 1-0 isn’t a terrible result from the
first leg of their Europa League qualifier against MFK Ruzomberok.
A deflected strike from Leighton Baines just past the hour-mark at Goodison Park gave the Toffees a narrow lead to take to Slovakia for the second leg of their third-qualifying-round tie.
"I don't think 1-0 is a bad result," he said. "Maybe everybody thought we would get a bigger result at home but everyone needs to know it's the fourth week of pre-season and we cannot expect that this team is at 100%.
"But they worked very hard, had a lot of possession and played aggressively. A second goal would have been a perfect result but in European football, a 1-0 win with a clean sheet is a good result."
Koeman also said he was happy with the showing from Wayne Rooney, who started alongside other new recruits like Davy Klaassen, Michael Keane, and Cuco Martina.
"Of course he would like to create a little more and he would like to score more goals but he worked very hard."
Rooney himself added that "it was an important game for us so I had to put my emotions to one side" after making his first competitive appearance for the Toffees in 14 years.
"Getting the goal gave us a sense of relief and control of the game," Rooney said. "It's very early on in the season.I know we can play better but it's important to win and get the clean sheet."
