David Moyes referenced Everton’s “really good values” after Jack Grealish was dropped for the 3-1 League Cup win over Newcastle United after a breach of discipline.
The on-loan Manchester City winger was omitted from the matchday squad at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after reportedly skipping a training session.
Grealish had previously missed Everton’s Premier League defeat against Arsenal on Saturday through illness.
Moyes declined to elaborate on the specifics behind the 31-year-old’s omission, but made clear he fully endorsed the sanction.
“It was a club decision. I support the decision. It’s something I don’t really want to speak too much about,” Moyes said.
Pressed on whether the disciplinary issue risked distracting the squad, Moyes praised his side’s culture and professional standards.
“I think the one thing about Everton and what they’ve got is they’ve got really good values behind it,” he said.
“All the players stand up to the values, accept the values that we put out there, what we want from them on the pitch and off the pitch. And from that point of view I think the players have done a brilliant job tonight, they really did.”
On the pitch, Everton booked their place in the quarter-finals in routine fashion. First-half strikes from James Garner and Hayden Hackney put the hosts in command before Thierno Barry added a third in the 69th minute. Dan Burn grabbed a late consolation for Newcastle.
The Toffees will now face League Two side Fleetwood Town in December’s quarter-finals, after the fourth-tier outfit pulled off a major upset against Arsenal on Tuesday.
“I think the minute you use the word quarter-finals then you start to think, ‘this sounds good’,” added Moyes.
“I think we’re pleased that we’ve been able to get to this stage of the competition. If we can keep it going great, obviously.”
Carabao Cup quarter-final full draw
- Fleetwood Town vs Everton
- Manchester City vs Bradford City
- Liverpool vs Bournemouth
- Crystal Palace vs Sunderland
