Leon Osman has warned Everton to not treat Saturday's FA Cup clash with arch-rivals Liverpool as their final.
Toffees midfielder wants team-mates to be fully focused
Leon Osman has warned Everton to not treat Saturday's FA Cup clash with arch-rivals Liverpool as their final.
The semi-final with the Reds is the first time David Moyes' side have returned to Wembley since their 2009 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
But Osman does not want it to end there and he is wary of what the spectacle of a day out a Wembley can do to minds which are not fully focused.
"You enjoy the settings and what it is but it is a little bit strange because the final is at Wembley and you don't want to get sucked in to where you are because it is a semi-final game," said the 30-year-old, who was a member of the side beaten by Chelsea three years ago.
"The worry is you get all the way there, get to play at Wembley but you only get to play once in the semi and not the final.
"It is not the final so you have to be wary of that feeling.
"You have to put anxiety to the back of your mind, you have to go out and play the team you are up against and try to progress.
"We are going there to try to be confident because we want to be in that final."
Looking forward
As a graduate of Everton's academy Osman is probably looking forward to the derby clash more than most.
But he accepts he will not be alone in wanting to beat their near-neighbours, especially after two league defeats this season.
"It is a semi-final at Wembley, against our closest rivals," he added.
"It gives it that extra incentive to go out there and play well and win the game but I think everyone in the squad is feeling that, not just me, Tony Hibbert and Leighton Baines as local lads.
"We have some experienced players in the dressing room and even someone like Nikica Jelavic who has not played in a Merseyside derby has played in the Glasgow one so he knows what it is about.
"There is quite a bit of experience in the dressing room to be able to handle it.
"It is a derby but it is just one more step to winning the FA Cup.
"Liverpool have won both the games against us this season and they've already won a cup this season but we're going in trying to win."
Instant success
Striker Jelavic has been an instant success since signing from Rangers in January while Darron Gibson has yet to be on the losing side in 11 matches since arriving from Manchester United.
Those two, plus the return of midfielder Steven Pienaar on-loan from Tottenham, have given the rest of the squad a much-needed shot in the arm.
"I think everyone has thrived from the competition within the squad," said Osman.
"The January signings gave us all a kick up the backside, there has been fighting for places with players coming in and having to play well and we have been getting results since.
"Nikica has been a breath of fresh air. He settled in really quickly and looked sharp so all credit to him.
"It is important several players are scoring but it helps when you have someone like Nikica scoring goals because it helps breeds goals in the rest of the team and people tend to be less picked up because we have a main goal threat.
"It is good when the opportunities are coming and the rest of the team are finishing them as well."
