Koeman in blast at Jose after Lukaku haunts old club

RONALD KOEMAN took a swipe at Jose Mourinho for suggesting Everton’s £140million summer spending spree should see them fighting for a Champions League place.

Defeat at Manchester United yesterday was Everton’s third in a row in the league and dumped them into the bottom three.

And Blues boss Koeman was unhappy with his United rival for writing in his programme notes

that for the cash the Toffees splashed out they “want to at least secure a top four position this season”.

But Koeman rubbished the idea. He said: “I’m sorry, if there’s anybody in this room and outside who sees this as something realistic and possible for this Everton, then please comment.

“Be realistic. Let’s talk at the end of the season. I’m not happy how we started the season, but please be a bit realistic about Everton. It starts with everybody. We need time, but it’s difficult in football.”

Asked what was realistic for a club who finished seventh in May, he said: “Same as last season.”

Antonio Valencia gave United an early lead but they did not add a second until Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s 83rd-minute strike. Romelu Lukaku scored against his old club and Anthony Martial added a penalty.

Paul Pogba will have more scans on a hamstring injury suffered in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Basel – with Mourinho dismissing talk he could be out for 12 weeks as “nonsense information”. He added: “Any comment, any view, any rumour is totally wrong because we don’t know if it’s 12 weeks or 12 days.”