Raya on Saka’s return, Everton and Madrid

David Raya has been reflecting on Bukayo Saka’s return from injury and looking ahead to tough tests against Everton and Real Madrid in the next few days.

Asked about Saka, who scored just seven minutes after coming on in our 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday, Raya was delighted to have him back in the side.

“We know injuries are part of football and we've been hit with big ones but that's just part of football and we're lucky enough to have a strong team and a strong squad,” he said.

“We have a really good relationship between each other and everybody's ready for the task and of course it's so good to have Bukayo back and especially scoring after seven minutes is incredible, it's what we wanted from him as well and I think for him it was what he needed to feel like he's back and feel ready to go.

“I think having a really good squad in terms of that relationship, like I said, between each other and everybody ready to be on the pitch, even sometimes players are not playing or players are not getting the minutes that they want and when those opportunities come they're ready to help the team, so I think that's a massive thing that we have and the togetherness that we have all together.”

"If you're enjoying what you're doing, the results will come"

Looking ahead to this weekend, when we’ll travel to Merseyside for our final trip to Goodison Park before Everton move to Bramley-Moore Dock, Raya expects another tough test against the Toffees.

“We expect a very tough game, we know especially at their ground they're really difficult to play and now they're playing really, really well,” he said. “They lost on Wednesday against Liverpool but I thought they played really well and they make it very, very difficult and especially when they play at home it's a really tough team to beat so we have to be ready, we have to do our best to get the three points.”

Then on Tuesday, we host Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

“We know what we have to do, we know what's coming and of course first is Everton and then we'll focus on Madrid but of course it's a big, big game for everybody and we're ready to go, we're ready to make it so difficult for them and we're just ready to get the win at home especially and play a good part in the Champions League,” Raya said.

Asked what he’d like to see from the team for the rest of the season, he added: “Just improving every area, improving every single day and just enjoy playing football, I think that's the most important thing and if you're enjoying what you're doing when you're on the pitch, the results will come and the wins will come so for me that's the most important thing.”