Graphic: case for the defence

David Moyes praised his players’ courage and determination after seeing off Manchester United in the penalty shoot-out. The Everton manager revealed that Phil Jagielka did not want to take a penalty after missing from the spot in last season’s Uefa Cup round of 32 shoot-out defeat by Fiorentina, but such reluctance was not apparent as he side-footed the decisive spot-kick past Ben Foster to take his side to their first FA Cup Final since 1995.

“If he’d have had his way Jagielka wouldn’t have taken it, but we struggled to get many people to take them,” Moyes said. “He wasn’t madly keen on taking one, but scored in training and it stuck in my mind, so good on him. Jagielka has really come on as a player and he showed that today.”

Moyes also singled out James Vaughan and Phil Neville for special praise, as well as Tim Howard, who saved two penalties against his former club after Tim Cahill had fired Everton’s opening penalty high over the bar. “As a man Tim [Howard] deserves the plaudits,” Moyes said. “He’s worked really hard at his game. You saw it also with Phil Neville, who always does his best for Everton. James hasn’t played for four months and Jagielka missed one last season so there weren’t many options.

“It worried me when Tim missed the first one as United are the world’s best in this situation and won the Champions League on penalties. It took great bottle and courage for James to take one as he only had a dozen kicks in the game.”

Neville described taking a penalty against his former club, with brother Gary watching from the United bench, as one of the hardest acts of his career. “Taking that was one of the most nerve-racking things I have ever done,” he said. “A few weeks ago after we beat Middlesbrough in the quarter-finals my wife actually said to me that I needed to practise penalties because the match with Manchester United would go to penalties. I have been practising.

“When I scored I did not want to celebrate in front of the Manchester United fans. You don’t celebrate in front of people who have helped you in your career, but inside I was burning. When we won it I was just happy to celebrate with the Everton fans.”

Moyes described booking a final date with Chelsea ranks as the highlight of his career, surpassing his achievement of leading Everton into the Champions League for the first time in 2005.

“It’s my best day so far,” he said. “It’s the biggest game I’ve been involved in and in the end the team did their job. For everyone at Everton it’s fantastic. We’re working towards success and if we keep doing what we’re doing we won’t be too far away. We weren’t fortunate enough to be able to rest our best players. The players have shown spirit and character in adversity.”

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