Koeman: Everton’s board still trust me
RONALD KOEMAN admits Everton may be in a crisis but insists he retains the full support of the club’s board and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. Pressure has increased on Everton’s manager as results have nosedived and they face Lyon tonight in the Europa League before tackling Arsenal, Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and then Leicester City. Fans’ patience is running out but Koeman feels safe after a chat on Friday with chairman Bill Kenwright and Moshiri. ‘The feeling is that they are behind the team and they are behind the manager,’ said Koeman. ‘But in football finally it is all about results.’ Bookmakers have tipped Koeman to be fired for weeks and he admitted: ‘Maybe I’m in crisis. Most of the time the manager doesn’t get time to improve the team. ‘I feel sorry for Craig Shakespeare at Leicester. He did a good job taking over from Claudio Ranieri.’ It would certainly help Koeman pull back from the brink if Everton could win for only the third time in 12 matches against Lyon tonight. Everton have
made the worst start to a Europa League campaign by any Premier League side, taking one point from their first two games.
EVERTON (probable, 4-2-3-1) Pickford; Holgate, Keane, Williams, Martina; Gueye, Davies; Rooney, Klaassen, Mirallas; Calvert-Lewin.
LYON (probable, 4-2-3-1): Lopes; Rafael, Marcelo, Diakhaby, Marcal; Tousart, Ndombele; Traore, Fekir, Depay; Maolida.