Ashley Williams claims Everton’s mini revival will count for nothing if they fail to beat Apollon Limassol.
The Blues have recovered from the low point of their 3-0 drubbing by Atalanta in their opening Europa League group game a fortnight ago by winning their last two matches.
They have answered manager Ronald Koeman’s rallying call after he held crisis talks with Williams and the club’s other senior players in the wake of that dire display out in Italy.
But centre-back Williams claims all that hard work will be wasted if they do not beat Cypriot side Limassol at Goodison Park on Thursday as their European campaign resumes.
“We have to keep this going,” said the Wales skipper. “If you don’t win the next game, then it feels bad again.
“We’ve won two now. We need to keep the run going, especially at home, and we need a win in the Europa League as well.
“After the last game [Atalanta], which was so disappointing for all of us, for everyone concerned with Everton - it was a bad game for us - we want to go out there and put things right.”
Williams also praised his former Swansea team-mate Gylfi Sigurdsson, and says the Blues’ record £45million signing can become a key player this season.
“I’m pleased for him,” said the 33-year-old. “He’s settled in well and all the lads get on with him. He feels at home here.
“He’s a very important player for us and over the course of the season he will score some important goals - as he did against Hajduk Split [ THAT screamer in the playoff to decide who advanced to the Europa League group stage] - and put in some really good performances.
“He has put in a real shift for us out on the left. I thought he worked ever so hard for us against Bournemouth on Saturday.”
Williams will partner Mason Holgate again in the centre of defence because Phil Jagielka and Michael Keane are injured, and the veteran is impressed with his new apprentice.
Holgate, 20, has made five starts this season and Williams said: “He’s one of my best mates, so we speak all the time.
“He knows the position, he is a centre-half, so he was speaking to me as well and I thought we worked well together. It’s not an easy position for a young player. It’s unforgiving. If you make a mistake, the opposition normally score.”