UNSWORTH HITS OUT AT EVERTON CAPITULATION
DISMAL TOFFEES HUMILIATED BY ATALANTA AS EUROPA LEAGUE MISERY REACHES NEW LOW
“Hurting” Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth criticised an unacceptable performance in the 5-1 Europa League home defeat to Atalanta and called on his players to start shouldering some responsibility.
Last night’s result was the heaviest home defeat by an English side in the various guises of this competition since Nottingham Forest lost by the same scoreline to Bayern Munich in 1996 and one point from five matches extends the worst Europa League record by an English side.
Having already been eliminated from the competition, there was nothing but pride for a side featuring nine changes to play for, but Unsworth was disappointed those he gave chances to did failed to deliver.
“The players who have been asking me for opportunities to play in the first team were given that tonight,” he said.
“I asked the players to make it difficult for me to leave them out of the team on Sunday and the majority have probably made it very easy for me.
“I know there wasn’t anything riding on the game, but we had paying Evertonians tonight and I stressed we had to compete – the manner we capitulated just isn’t acceptable and the players know that.
“What you can’t do at this level is carry players. When your best player is an 18-yearold kid (Beni Baningime) who’s only had a couple of first-team appearances, that tells you all you need to know. “Players need to take responsibility – senior players, foreign players, young players. Everton fans will be disappointed with what they saw and so am I.” A month to the day since Ronald Koeman was sacked the Toffees appear to be no nearer finding a replacement.
But Unsworth, who has lost four and won just one of his six games in temporary charge, conceding 16 goals, insists that should be no excuse.
“I’d like to think every single player is hurting the way I am the moment and if they are not then they shouldn’t be here at this great club,” he added. “The minimum requirement is 100 per cent effort. Only those players will know themselves when they look themselves in the mirror at night.”
A double from Bryan Cristante put the visitors, who also missed a penalty, in control early in the second half.
Summer signing Sandro Ramirez pulled one back with his first for Everton, but goals from substitutes Andreas Cornelius (two) and Robin Gosens in the last four minutes plus added time typified the hosts’ haplessness.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said: “I don’t think it was easy, although the result may give that idea.
“For long periods it was a tough battle.”