Saturday 26 November 2016 11:45, UK
Leighton Baines says Everton are aiming for the Champions League but warned Ronald Koeman cannot be expected to turn things around quickly.
Koeman enjoyed an excellent start to his Everton career, winning four of his first five Premier League matches.
But, ahead of their visit to Southampton on Super Sunday, the Merseyside club have won just once in their subsequent seven league games.
They sit seventh in the table, five points better off than Koeman's former club, with the Dutchman set to return to St Mary's on Sunday for the first time since his departure last summer.
Baines insists Everton's long-term ambition remains to qualify for the Champions League, but admitted it will take time for Koeman to implement his style of football.
"We were all impressed when he [Koeman] first came in and we made a good start," Baines told Soccer Saturday. "It was just a case of him reinstalling the fundamentals and the things we had come away from.
"But it's not a quick fix. It takes time when a new manager comes in to get the side doing everything he wants them to do.
"We brought some new players in as well so we feel like we're on a good path and we've got it all still to play for.
"We're excited about what's to come and beyond that, the manager and the new owner, the club is in a really exciting position at the moment."
Everton have not played in the Champions League since 2005, when they were knocked out in the third qualifying round by Villarreal.
Having finished outside the European qualification places last season, they are six points behind fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games this campaign, but Baines is eager to bring European games back to Goodison Park sooner rather than later.
"It's something we all strive for," he added. "We enjoy being a part of those games, the European nights. That's what we will strive for now.
"We have the cup competitions that are coming in soon, the FA Cup, so we are looking forward to what's ahead."
They visit St Mary's seeking their first away win since September 12, but while they have struggled away from Goodison Park, their form at home has been strong.
"It's something we wanted to get back to, making Goodison a tough place to come and play," Baines added.
"We had probably got away from that a little bit down the years. You speak to other players and they hated coming to our place.
"I think, from speaking to people, over the last couple of years people quite looked forward to it or didn't mind. They thought they would get to play, and it would be who played the better football would come out on top.
"We take some pride when people don't want to come to Goodison to play."
Watch the full interview with Everton full-back Leighton Baines on Soccer Saturday from 12pm on Sky Sports News HQ
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