Everton defender Jake O'Brien didn't mince words after Monday's wild 3-3 draw with Manchester City—calling it "devastating" to walk away with just a point after leading 3-1. But the Irish center-back isn't waving the white flag on Europe just yet.

O'Brien's first goal of the season sparked a breathtaking 13-minute spell that saw the Toffees rip through City's defense. After a sluggish first half, David Moyes' men came out firing in the second, looking like they'd pulled off a statement win against the title-chasing giants. Then came the sucker punch: Erling Haaland struck back, and Jeremy Doku's last-gasp equalizer silenced Goodison Park.

"It was a mixed performance," O'Brien admitted. "In the first half, we weren't ourselves. We didn't get on the ball enough and make things happen. In the second half we showed more personality and put pressure on them. It's a point on the board, but it's devastating as well."

Still, the math gives Everton reason to believe. The draw leaves them 10th in the table, but only four points separate them from sixth-placed Bournemouth with three games left. In a Premier League season where the European race is tighter than ever, that gap is anything but insurmountable.

"For sure, yeah," O'Brien said when asked if the squad still believes in a European finish. "It's very tight, but it's three games—three games we're more than good enough to win."

With the finish line in sight, the Toffees will need that confidence—and maybe a lucky kit—to turn those close calls into wins. For fans dreaming of European nights, the message from the dressing room is clear: keep the faith, and keep pushing.