Koeman calls for calm despite loss

Everton lost away at Tottenham Hotspur 3-2, but the score could have been much worse and yet the Blues could have even tied it, undeservedly so according to the manager Ronald Koeman.

“We brought everything to try and get a good result.

“At 2-1 I was really optimistic about getting one. But the players were a little bit afraid and did not have that ball possession that they have had before.

“At 3-1, we brought it back again but there was no time to make a draw.

“Tottenham are a strong team. Now is the time to keep calm and prepare for the next two home games. That will shape our direction for the end of the season.”

Koeman was unhappy with the multiple mistakes the team made on the day.

“It was emotional until the last second. The game was really difficult. We started well and made it hard for Spurs to create open chances, but they have scored from a shot from distance. After that it was more difficult.

“They had further chances to score before half time, and what really disappointed me was how they got their second goal, from a mistake by us.

“At least we showed great character until the end of the game, and tried to get it back at 2-1. We were hoping for a point but their third killed the final result. It was too easy from the free-kick and if you make that kind of mistakes at this level against a team like Spurs then they will punish you.”

The difference between the two sides was pretty clear.

“If you compare the two teams today it's the third season of Pochettino at Tottenham and you could see a lot of the daily training work in the team.

“If we get that time at Everton we can make the next step.”

Ross Barkley was Everton’s best player on the day, and Koeman acknowledged it.

“I think in the second half he was really important. He was strong on the ball and he had some good passes.

“I think in the first half he needed to support Romelu more but we made some mistakes with our final balls and their high defensive line left space but we needed good balls.

“But overall I think he played on a really high level today and he showed again today that he is on a good direction as a football player for us.”