“We knew that we could beat them”: Everton’s belief before the 1995 FA Cup final

Former Everton midfielder Barry Horne reflected on the team's strong self-belief ahead of their 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the 1995 FA Cup final. Speaking to ToffeeWeb, Horne explained that the squad held genuine confidence without arrogance after securing Premier League survival and defeating several top sides under manager Joe Royle.

Horne noted that Everton benefited from Eric Cantona's absence while facing a formidable Manchester United lineup that included Roy Keane and Paul Ince. Paul Rideout scored the decisive goal on May 20, 1995, securing what remains Everton's most recent major trophy in a tournament Horne considers the last where every major club fielded their strongest lineups.