Silva: I am not pressing the panic button
Everton manager Marco Silva accepts his side has to turn around their poor run of form quickly, but he does not believe the next couple of months will determine their season.
After just one win in eight league matches, the Toffees have a run of seven fixtures – starting today at home to Bournemouth – where they only have to face Manchester City out of the current top seven teams in the Premier League table.
However, Silva said he did not believe the next couple of months would be pivotal – just like December should not be viewed in isolation.
“Of course last December was tough for us,” he said. “We didn’t achieve the results we wanted and, in some moments, we deserved.
“We have analysed why in some of them, but we are the same team, the same players, the same structure.
“Of course results are the main thing, but in 25 days things will not change in our mind.
“The season is more than one month. For us to grow as a club and to play with the same confidence as before results are the key.”
With Bournemouth only behind the Toffees on goal difference, today’ s match at Goodison Park – where they have not won in the league since November – is crucial. And they are opponents Silva himself admires.
“We play against a team with a good idea of football with big stability; the coach working there the last five, six seasons, more or less the same group of players,” he added.
“They have a good style, good players and they are showing good ambition.”
Bour nemouth boss Eddie Howe is anxious for his players to avoid a crisis of confidence as they attempt to rectify a prolonged slump.
Howe’s Cherries have lost eight of their last 11 top- flight games, were knocked out of the FA Cup at home to Brighton last weekend, and have shipped 15 goals in their previous four matches in all competitions.
They have also lost captain Simon Francis, full- back Adam Smith and midfielder Lewis Cook to long- term knee injuries during the past two months.
“It’s another massive game for us,” said Howe.
“We’re very keen to show a response to the recent run we’ve been on.
“The fixture list we had was incredibly tough, the injuries we suffered were difficult to handle, and I think confidence just took a little knock on the back of those two things.
“We need to make sure we don’t doubt ourselves in any way and we go to Everton full of confidence.”