Koeman calls for calm in the face of poor run

Everton have hit the doldrums lately failing to win in their last five games. They take on West Ham United on Sunday looking to rectify that situation, and manager Ronald Koeman shared his thoughts ahead of the game.

“It’s not about our last five games, it’s not about the first six, it’s not about winning or losing, it’s an overview of what has happened and that we want to change.

“Of course, we know if you don’t win in the last four [games] in the Premier League then every time you play you come closer to a must-win game.

“I think we need to turn it around but it happens in football. I’m prepared to get in tough times and also prepared for how we started the season, because that’s football.

"When you have a lot of experience in this game you know that what happened last week does not count any more. It’s all about the next. I hate losing, and that mentality has to be shared by everybody, but no team will go through the season without having tasted defeat and we are no different.

“My experiences, and it happened also at Southampton, is that it’s not always sunny and you don’t win always. You get in difficult times, in tough times and then really you need to support each other.

“That’s important. If everything goes well it’s easy to come into the team, it’s easy to play but now really we need the personalities to turn it around and I think we have enough personalties in the team.

"We have really experienced players, we have young players and, in terms of age, I think we have a good balance in the squad.

“But you always try to be better and try to be stronger, and that starts this weekend.”