Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TOFFEES’ ‘STRONG CHARACTER’ CAN TURN SILVA INTO GOLD
UNDER-FIRE Marco Silva is looking for his team to “show more” after hitting a “tough moment” in his Everton tenure.
The Toffees boss is under pressure after four straight defeats plunged his side into the relegation zone.
They face West Ham tomorrow, with Silva (right) admitting it is a must-win game. And he says the time has come for his players to stand up and be counted.
“When you have tough moments as a football team – and this is a tough moment for us as a club and our fans – we have to do even more,” he said. “As a team, we have to show more, that strong character and personality that will have us playing to our best level again and achieving what we want in every single match.
“The first thing is for my team to give everything. We have to be really strong, then the results will come again. In the tough moments, you can see the strong character, the strong personality. And how we can be strong as a team.” Manuel Pellegrini has urged Everton to keep faith with Silva.
The West Ham boss (left) recalled his own difficult start to life at the London Stadium last season. Pellegrini was beaten in his opening four Premier League games before finally getting off the mark at Everton 13 months ago.
He said: “Last season, we beat them there 3-1, when we were in a similar position to where they are now.
“So, I don’t think Marco should be sacked in the next game. He must continue doing exactly the work he is doing.”