‘EPL TITLE DEFENCE TOUGHER THAN SERIE A’
Chelsea manager Conte claims retaining league crown in Italy was easier
LONDON LONDON: Everton manager Ronald Koeman still has the “total support” of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri despite the club’s dismal start to the season.
The big-spending Toffees have won just twice in the league and their record of seven points from seven matches leaves them two points clear of the drop zone, in 16th place.
The Goodison Park club are also struggling in the Europa League after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Atalanta and a disappointing home draw against Apollon Limassol of Cyprus.
Moshiri thinks the supporters transfer window.
After Chelsea won the league last season their main rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, made significant investment in their squads.
“It is very difficult for every team in this league. To defend — it is very difficult to win two titles in a row,” Conte said.
“We won the title with Juventus and I was expecting a really strong challenge from AC Milan, but instead they sold Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris St Germain, so they became deserve better but believes a tough run of fixtures and injury problems are factors behind Everton’s poor run.
The players were booed off after a 1-0 home defeat to Burnley on Sunday, which Moshiri described as the only “unexpected” loss of the campaign.
After the game, Koeman said he was not worried about his future and Moshiri has made it clear that the Dutchman has the backing of the board.
“We’re in a bad moment — but we have played three of the four title contenders away,” Moshiri told talkSPORT radio.
“(Burnley) was the only unexpected loss. The four pre-qualifying weaker. It wasn’t simple second time, but it was easier.
“Here, from last season to this season, you have big teams and now they are bigger... And now after I think a great transfer market, they have improved a lot. It’s not simple to play this league.”
City and United splashed out in the last transfer window and the two Manchester clubs lead the league table on 19 points from seven games, followed by Tottenham in third.
Chelsea dropped to fourth, six points behind the leaders, after losing 1-0 to City on Saturday and the defeat was compounded by a muscle injury to striker Alvaro Morata.
Conte’s team travel to basement side Crystal Palace, who are yet to win a league game this season, on Oct 14. Reuters UEFA games and two group games on Thursdays haven’t helped. There is mental fatigue and seven injuries.
“These are early days and Koeman has my total support. We have great fans — they deserve better.
“We know the honest and objective expectations of our supporters and will not let them down.”
Everton have already faced both Manchester clubs and Chelsea away from home in the Premier League as well as hosting Tottenham at Goodison Park. Their only point from those matches came in a 1-1 draw against City. AFP