Everton boss David Moyes admits he jumped at the chance to come to Australia for their pre-season tour. The Toffees are in Melbourne for their second Down Under tour match which takes place on Wednesday night against Melbourne Heart and Moyes explained the reasons for coming to what is seemingly a fledgling football nation.
"Over the last few years we've tended to choose America but I think it's suited to come to Australia," Moyes said today.
"Tim Cahill's popularity here, Everton as a club are trying to grow their brand worldwide so it's a good stopping point. I'd never been before so when I heard we had the chance to come to Australia, I was desperate to come and I know the football (in Australia) is improving as well.
"I think the league is doing everything it can to try and introduce one or two players to try and make it better and I think to try and get it to overtake the likes of Aussie Rules and the rugby league so we are looking forward to being here and I'm sure more and more Premiership teams and clubs from Europe will come to Australia in the years to come."
As for tomorrow night's opponents, Moyes admitted he knew very little about them.
"They're a new team so I know very little about them. I recognise one or two of the players when I saw the team sheet so I know one or two of them but I don't necessarily know much about them," he added.
And if his Premier League side happens to go down to the Heart, Moyes said he didn't really mind as long as things were right for the upcoming English Premier League season.
"As long as I win my opening day game (against Blackburn Rovers on August 14) in the Premier League when I get back, it doesn't really matter what the result is," he said.
"Obviously winning is something which you like to breed. We finished last season incredibly well. I think we took off again the other night (in the win over Sydney FC). We've trained for a very short time and played games so we've not really had as long a period as we would have so I wouldn't say our fitness levels are up to where they should be but we're certainly getting close to it."
