DAVID MOYES hopes his lasting legacy at Everton is the change in mindset which means the club is expected to compete with the Premier League’s top sides.

The Toffees went close to snatching victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge yesterday during the Scot’s final game in charge, only to rue Nikica Jelavic’s second half miss which was compounded when Fernando Torres grabbed the winner just two minutes later.

But Moyes was impressed with the dedication and style his side displayed in a game which was never going to alter their sixth-place finish, and hopes the confidence his players displayed in an assured first half lives on in his absence.

He said: “Folk are now saying Everton are near the top and talking about Europa League and even Champions League. It was a big shock when we got knocked out of the Cup by Wigan earlier this season. Yes there are regrets but hopefully I’ve left more pluses.

“A few weeks ago we went to Arsenal in a game we had to win and they had to win and showed a good mindset. We’ve been to Tottenham recently and did well, so we’ve had big games and improved. It’s not something to talk about but we’ve had a half, or a third of the money the others teams are spending on wages.

“When you weigh it up there’s been an improvement.

“Everton have had a great season. Near enough from the first day to the last we’ve competed and been very close. We’ve had bad days but tell me any club or manager who doesn’t have them during a season? In a 10-month season they happen. I congratulated the players.

“The group of players I leave are a top group of players. They’ve got a good chance.”

Moyes, who will take over as Manchester United boss on July 1 after an extended holiday, was grateful for the professionalism of his side on the final day of the season.

He added: “I thought it was a really good game and we played excellently. The result was very harsh on us but in a game where there was not a lot riding on it for us, the attitude and perfor-mance levels of the players was as good as we’ve had at times this season.

“But for a few missed chances we could quite easily have come away with a draw and probably at the least deserved that.

“It was the players who deserved the applause and they played well in a game when Everton could quite easily not have turned up.

“They deserve a lot of credit. It was not about me it was about them.”

Moyes admitted he will be sad to leave the club after this final week of helping to prepare for the future without him.

“I’m sad that I’m leaving Everton because look at the players here,” he said. “I’ve brought every one of them here apart from Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman and I hope every one of them thinks it was worthwhile coming here.

“I hope they thought the vision we had was good, the way we wanted to challenge the big clubs and develop even though everyone thought it would be impossible with what we had. And in the end maybe everyone has been proved right. But I tell you what we’ve had a really good go at it with what we’ve had over the years.

“Mana-gers don’t get the opportunity to improve themselves if they don’t have good players. I’ve been really fortunate that the group of players have given me an opportunity to improve from my first year to my last.

“Players move on and change clubs and there’s not always the emotion, and in a way it can be the same for a manager and I’m moving on but I’m leaving a lot of good colleagues and good professionals behind.

“I’m sure I’ll bump into a few of them in the future and I’ll not be too far away next season.”