Neville eyes Everton's final ascent

Everton FC captain Phil Neville says his team will be "massive underdogs" next month when they take on Chelsea FC in their first FA Cup final appearance since winning the title 14 years ago.

United denied
The Merseyside club ended Manchester United FC's hopes of an unprecedented quintuple of trophies this term, prevailing 4-2 in a semi-final penalty shoot-out after two hours without a goal at Wembley. While Everton may have broken the monopoly of the Premier League's 'big four' in 2005 by finishing fourth – in addition to sixth and fifth in recent seasons – Neville is desperate for something more tangible but acknowledges the size of the task in hand when they return to the national stadium on 30 May.

'Mammoth task'
"You get nothing for finishing sixth, you get nothing for finishing fifth and you get nothing for losing in the semi-final of the League Cup to Chelsea [last season] or going out valiantly to Fiorentina [in the UEFA Cup Round of 16 on penalties]," said the 32-year-old, who won the FA Cup three times during his eleven-year spell at Old Trafford prior to joining Everton in 2005. "The next step is for us to win a trophy and we've got to do it. It's a mammoth task as we'll go into the game as massive underdogs."

Top-flight opponents
Everton were exactly that in the fourth round against city rivals Liverpool FC, whom they beat 1-0 after a replay, while they also overcame Premier League opposition in Aston Villa FC and Middlesbrough FC before adding the significant scalp of United. David Moyes's team have certainly not had it easy, yet Neville would have it no other way. "I'd rather do it the way we have because we've gained so much experience from this cup run," he said. "The win against Liverpool gave us belief that we can beat any team because we showed courage that night and we'll need to show it again at Wembley [in the final]."

Captain courageous
Neville scored the third spot-kick of the shoot-out against his former club and although he admits to being no expert from eleven metres, the former England international knew he had to volunteer his services. "I knew that as captain, particularly against the club we were playing, that I needed to show my leadership and when the manager asked 'who wants a penalty?' I said I wanted the first one. He ignored that but I ended up being third. It was probably one of the most nerve-racking things I've ever done."