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Morgan Schneiderlin says Everton are ready to learn from the mistakes of last season as they plot an assault on the Premier League big boys.

And the Blues midfielder believes the squad will be strong enough to cope with the twin demands of domestic and European football this term.

Though Ronald Koeman’s first season should be considered a strong one, Everton finished a rather lonely seventh – far too good for those below them, not good enough to challenge those above.

But the club’s summer spending – six new senior signings are already confirmed, with more expected – has raised hope of a challenge to the top six this time around.

Schneiderlin, himself a big-money buy back in January, says he is excited by the quality of player coming in at Goodison, and believes it is representative of the club’s ambition.

“When I came in January it was the first thing I asked,” he told the ECHO. “They told me the project for the football club and it was one of the reasons I signed.

“They have a big project, they told me they will attract some big players and that we will push for European and Champions League football and for trophies. That’s why I joined.

“The club has done its business very, very well. They’re not just spending money for the fun of it, they’re spending it on good players, players who will improve the squad and the team, and that is good.

“We are all looking forward to the season.”

Everton began their pre-season friendly schedule with a 2-1 win over Gor Mahia over in Tanzania on Thursday afternoon. Wayne Rooney, the most high-profile summer arrival of the lot, was on the scoresheet.

Schneiderlin knows the England captain well from his time at Manchester United, and believes the 31-year-old’s presence will have a knock-on effect among Koeman’s squad.

“I don’t need to present him to you, because you know how good he is as a player,” he said.

“He will bring all his experience, all his quality to the team. He’s a player that even though he’s won so many trophies in his life, still trains hard and fights hard every day.

“It’s a pleasure, and it’s good for the young players as well to learn from him. It’s going to be very good, and I am sure there will be some good games too. I can see that he has a smile on his face, and so I hope he will help us to win some trophies.

Schneiderlin added: “It raises the game of everyone. When you have good players on the training pitch, everyone is on their toes to be at their best every day.

“It’s good, it’s not just Wazza, it’s all the new signings and the players who were already here. We have great quality in the squad.”

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Everton will kick off their season early, entertaining either Brann Bergen of Norway or Ruzomberok of Slovakia in the third qualifying round of the Europa League, with the first leg to be played at Goodison Park on July 27.

Qualification for the group stage would mean a far more congested fixture schedule than last term – something Koeman is acutely aware of – but Schneiderlin says that is something the Blues will have to deal with.

“Obviously with the Europa League it will be more demanding,” he said. “But we have a big squad and that is why you have that. You need to adapt to any circumstances.

“We’ll do the best we can. Of course I can speak now and say ‘we want to be in the top five’ but we have to show it on the pitch that we are better than last year, and that we have learned from our mistakes.

“From last year, the main thing we need to improve on is our away form. If we keep good form at home, and improve on those things we will be pushing.”

And on a personal level, how has Schneiderlin found his first six months on Merseyside?

“It’s been very good, I’ve been very happy,” he said.

“For me, it was about having that feeling back of playing regular football again and enjoying it. That’s what I needed, and I have found that at Everton.

“I’m very happy at the minute, and want to build on the last six months, keep improving, keep working and help the club achieve things.”