Everton Manager Ronald Koeman responded to the idea espoused by Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho that the Toffees should be playing for the top four this season. Koeman spent over £142 million on nine new players this summer, including first team players Michael Keane, Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Despite the expensive additions to the team, Everton have gotten off to a very rough start as they’re currently 18th in the Premie League table, having taken just four points from their first five matches.
In their last four matches across all competitions, all losses, they have been outscored 12-0.
After his side fell 4-0 at Manchester United today, Koeman said Mourinho’s perception of what stakes the Merseyside club should be playing for are not realistic.
“I read the United program and my colleague [Mourinho] said about Everton spending £140 million and so they need to go for the top four,” Koeman said.
“If there’s anybody in this room and outside and sees this as something realistic for us, please comment.
“Be realistic. I’m not happy how we started the season, but please be a bit realistic about Everton. We need time, but it’s difficult in football.”
He was responding to what Mourinho wrote in the program notes ahead of the match:
“Everybody knows that this afternoon will be a tough game because we are up against a team that has spent over £140 million during the course of the summer transfer window, so obviously we are playing against a team that wants to at least secure a top four position this season.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.