Everton manager Ronald Koeman has said that the injury to Yannick Bolasie is a big one.
The coach who took over from Roberto Martinez at the start of the season has had both highs and lows, after he left his former club – Southampton. Ahead of the Toffee’s visit to Watford, Koeman spoke to Sky Sports.
Koeman admitted that he does not have the players at the club to play exactly how he wanted. A lot of enthusiasm greeted Koeman’s start at the club after his incredible run in the last campaign but a win in nine league games has dampened the drive in the team.
“From the start after pre-season, we knew that we needed a change in the team. Even in that good run, we knew that we had to change some things,” Koeman said.
On what he need to change, the Dutchman pointed to the team’s struggle to “press opponents.”
“Sometimes we’re doing individual pressing instead of team pressing and that starts from the front,” Koeman added. Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku is the lead striker and with his poor record of covering the least ground last season, the coach has problems with it. However, Koeman refused to single out any player as he feels it is a team problem.
“If the players at the front are pressing and the defenders are not pushing up, that means there is too much room for out opponent. The team is too long, not compact enough, and then it’s difficult,” he said.
Koeman also said that it would take at least two more years in the transfer market to get a team. He termed it “a big project.”
Koeman was accused of not playing young players whilst at Southampton. He responded, saying England was different from his experience in Netherlands where he managed Ajax.
“Wesley Sneijder, [Nigel] De Jong, [Rafael] van der Vaart, [Thomas] Vermaelen, Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] was 19.
“There was so much talent that was great to work with. It’s much easier for a young player to make his debut in the Dutch league than the Premier League. But still I like to give young players opportunities when they deserve it,” Koeman said.