David Moyes has offered a candid insight into one of the more puzzling selection calls from Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. The manager revealed he started Merlin Rohl on the right flank specifically to counter a Chelsea player who never took the field. It is the sort of detail that underlines just how stretched resources have become at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this season.
Rohl, the 24-year-old German who joined permanently from Freiburg last summer, has already shown remarkable versatility. He began the campaign at right-back before shifting into midfield and now found himself deployed wide. Moyes explained the thinking was to match the expected attacking threat from Chelsea’s left wing-back Pep Chavarria. When Chavarria stayed on the bench, the plan lost its purpose, yet Rohl still contributed two strong crosses from the right-back position later in the game.
The admission highlights how Everton’s summer recruitment left gaps that continue to shape every matchday decision. With only a handful of senior options available across the pitch, Moyes is forced to improvise rather than pick his strongest eleven. Rohl’s willingness to play anywhere has become a vital asset, even if the results have not always followed.
Supporters have watched Rohl adapt quickly to English football after a difficult first season hampered by injury. His physical presence and ability to cover ground have impressed in training, and Moyes has spoken positively about his work rate. The midfielder’s flexibility means he can fill roles that would otherwise require additional signings, something the club has been reluctant to do amid wider financial considerations.
This latest tactical tweak also reflects the broader challenge of maintaining consistency after an encouraging start to the campaign. Everton had remained unbeaten in the league until the Chelsea fixture, but the lack of genuine width on the right exposed limitations in attack. Rohl’s crosses offered moments of promise, yet the team struggled to create clear chances overall.
For Everton fans the story resonates because it shows a manager working with what he has rather than what he wants. Rohl’s attitude has won praise inside the dressing room, with teammates noting his readiness to help the side in any position. That spirit matters when results turn and pressure builds.
Moyes made clear he still sees value in the player’s development. He pointed out that Rohl has now operated at right-back, wide right and in central areas this season, giving the manager options when injuries or suspensions strike. The German international has embraced the challenge, telling German media earlier in the month that he no longer worries about his exact position because he can contribute in multiple ways.
The episode leaves supporters wondering how long such patchwork solutions can continue. Everton sit eighth in the Premier League table after seven games, a respectable position given the circumstances, yet the squad remains thin in key areas. Rohl’s adaptability buys time, but it also masks deeper issues that will need addressing if the team is to push higher up the standings.
Moyes’ post-match comments were delivered in his usual straightforward manner, without excuses. He simply laid out the reasoning behind the call and moved on to discuss James Garner’s need for more minutes to regain last season’s form. The focus stays on the pitch rather than external distractions, something the manager has stressed repeatedly.
Rohl’s performance against Chelsea was not flawless, but his second-half shift to right-back produced the sort of delivery that could prove useful in tighter games. For a player still establishing himself in the Premier League, every opportunity to show that range of skills counts. Everton’s supporters will hope the manager continues to find the right balance between giving him game time and protecting his development.
The coming weeks will test whether this level of flexibility can deliver points as well as praise. With fixtures against strong opposition on the horizon, Moyes will need every player to contribute wherever they are asked to play. Rohl appears ready for that test.