FEAR AND LOATHING
Manager always cops the flak when things are going bad but I can take it vows Koeman
IT was the morning after the fight before and Ronald Koeman was in belligerent mood.
The stubble from earlier in the week, which hinted at a manager feeling the strain of battling to save his job, had gone.
Instead, a clean-shaven Koeman smiled at the cameras as he declared he was up for the scrap.
Yes, the beleaguered Blues boss admitted he was feeling the pressure, but he says he can handle the heat. Koeman even managed a joke as he quipped: “Now I am 10 years younger this morning after a shave!
“It has an impact on you if the team is not doing well and not getting wins, and criticism is always directed at the manager. If you don’t like it, then take another job.”
Despite suffering a sixth defeat in 10 games against Lyon (above), Koeman was heartened by the fight his Everton side displayed.
None more so than Ashley Williams, although the defender did take things too far when he shoved Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, sparking the mass brawl which has landed the Merseyside club in trouble with UEFA.
The Dutchman applauded the way Williams turned his frustration into aggression to inspire his team-mates and feels this is how Everton will end their disastrous slump.
“If you get frustrated and then get more aggression, that’s not bad,” he said. “But you need to control yourself.
“Of course we are disappointed about the result but we know that we need to fight and in difficult situations we showed that fight.”
Koeman is adamant that, despite a run of just two victories from 12 games, Everton can begin to turn the corner against Arsenal tomorrow at Goodison.
The Blues went into last season’s corresponding fixture on the back of a run of just one win in 11 but a late winner from Williams was the springboard for a push towards Europe.
The Dutchman believes that Arsenal, with three defeats on the road already this season, are vulnerable away from home.
“Arsenal are not unbeatable. They are not the strongest team away from home this season,” he said.
“If we bring the fight and aggression onto the pitch in a good way, then we have a good chance to win the game.”
Koeman also defended Everton’s £150million transfer splurge, even though it has left fans feeling short-changed.
The likes of Michael Keane (above), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Nikola Vlasic and Sandro Ramirez have yet to justify their hefty price-tags, but Koeman insists they will prove their worth.
“I still believe in the players and in the signings we made in the summer,” he said.
“The future will show everyone that they were really good signings.”