Livid Silva gives flops a real hiding
BOSS BLASTS EVERTON AFTER BLADES DEFEAT
MARCO SILVA has launched a brutal attack on his players, accusing them of “hiding”.
And the Everton manager has warned his underperforming squad the moment of truth has arrived with the visit to Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup tonight.
Silva was furious following the weekend home defeat by Sheffield United, where his side again appeared to lack character as they slipped into the Premier League’s bottom half.
The Portuguese coach pulled no punches with a calculated assault to shake his players from their complacency.
Speaking about the lame capitulation against the Blades, he said: “In some moments many players were hiding and didn’t give solutions.
“It is not the moment for anyone to hide.”
Silva said there can be no more shirking from anyone, including himself, insisting it is time for some hard-hitting truths at the club.
He said: “The moment is like I am here with you, and I said it inside the dressing room too – there is nowhere we can hide.
“We have to show stronger character and personality.
“The Sheffield Wednesday game is really important. Now I don’t want anyone hiding, not me, not them.
“It is a moment for us to go and play football and to take responsibility as well.
“In the second half [against Sheffield United] I didn’t see that ability. Football is about playing and showing strong character.”
Silva said his criticism referred to himself as much as his players.
When asked if he meant he would not hide, he replied: “No, no – no one can hide. No one, I am always here for you, I am always here for our fans, I will not hide, no one can hide.”
And asked what home truths he told his players after the defeat, he indicated he did not hold back with the criticism.
“They know my opinion, they already know – I told them. But some things will stay in our dressing room.”
Defeat at Hillsborough would put the manager under serious pressure, but he said he would be prepared to swing the axe if he believes it will provoke the right response from his team.
With the daunting prospect of Manchester City visiting Goodison on Monday, this becomes a must-win game.
When asked if the time had come to drop players, he said: “It is not the moment now to start talking about changes, or that certain players did this or that.
“You have to wait for the next game.”