It’s the mind that matters

ALLAN WANTS A PUSH FOR EUROPE

ALLAN wants his Everton team-mates to change their mindset as they look to bounce back from the collapse that led to last weekend’s thrashing by struggling Watford.

The Toffees were leading 2-1 in the 77th minute at Goodison Park before capitulating to lose 5-2 to a Hornets side whose relegation form forced them to axe their manager a fortnight ago.

That result made it just one win in five Premier League games for Rafa Benitez’s side, whose promising start to the season is rapidly unravelling.

Everton have been hit by injuries to key strikers Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-lewin.

But Allan believes an improved mentality is just as important to turning things around.

The Brazilian midfield enforcer said: “I think we had a really good start but the last two results at home, where we should be expecting to win and coming away with six points, ended up being two defeats. We must improve and we must take our opportunity on Monday.

“I think it’s our mindset that needs to change.

“For example, when we go ahead in a game and are looking to get a positive result, we need to focus on the opposition’s challenges that we face during the game and work hard during the game, knowing that we will be up against a lot of difficult situations.

“It’s about our mentality and we need to think positively, to believe in our work and our plan.

“And we can’t be taken by surprise, for example in the last game where we conceded three or four goals in the last 15 minutes.”

After taking 14 points from their opening seven games, Everton were being talked up as credible challengers for European qualification this term.

Asked whether a place in the top six is still the aim, Allan (right) added: “That is everybody’s dream.

“But it’s very difficult to talk now about where will be in six or seven months’ time. We need to take it game by game, get our injured players back from the treatment table as soon as possible as they are very important to us achieving as many points as possible.

“Our main objective is to improve on last season but we have to look at things game by game and see where we are at the end of the season.

It’s all about our mentality. We need to think positively and believe in our plan

Potential

“I hope we get a European place because that would be a dream for all of us.

“We have tremendous potential to be fighting for the top positions in the league. We have good, experienced players.

“As a group, we showed at the start of the season what we can do. I believe we have the potential to go in as equals, toe-to-toe, with all the top teams.

“We’ll be building on this experience with hard work during the week. There are some details we need to correct but I believe everything is in place to improve on last season.”