Friday 29 September 2017 15:14, UK
Everton manager Ronald Koeman has suggested a pressure to win games is resulting in the team playing with fear, the day after claiming his players are "scared" and "afraid".
The Toffees suffered more Europa League misery and sit bottom of Group E after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Apollon Limassol on Thursday - a result which left Koeman blasting his side's performance and some fans booing at the whistle.
Away from Europe, a difficult start to their Premier League campaign has seen Everton secure just two wins from six games as they faced each of the top four teams in their opening five fixtures.
When asked what's causing his players to feel fear this season, Koeman said: "Maybe the pressure to win the game.
"We try to analyse everything but they are and we are human people.
"The situation was possible to expect when we knew all the fixtures in the beginning.
"We could see it was really negative for our position in the Premier League."
Everton, who closed last season in seventh place, sit 14th ahead of their Super Sunday clash against Burnley, live on Sky Sports Premier League.
Koeman's side ended a run of three straight league defeats when they came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 last weekend, and the 54-year-old remains confident in his managerial abilities as he looks to earn a third win of the season.
"I'm too long in this job to lose my confidence, but yes, I'm worried about the situation and how we can turn it around," he said.
"I have the confidence to be the same manager as I was for the past six or seven years, to be successful.
"Football can be strange, football can be difficult, but Thursday can't be compared to Sunday because the opponent is totally different."
Injuries to a number of key players have contributed to Everton's struggles and Koeman revealed Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka are a doubt for this weekend's visit of the Clarets.
"I hope tomorrow to have some positive news. Tomorrow we need to make a decision about Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka whether they are available for Sunday, but they are doubtful," he added.
"It's always important to have everybody available, because all these players are quality players and experienced players and that's what you need in a difficult situation.
"If we win maybe we are back, but if we don't win Monday will be totally different and that is football."
Highlighting a lack of time between Europa League and Premier League games, the Dutchman stressed the players "don't have time" to fully prepare for their next encounter but said they feel ready to take on Burnley.
Koeman confirmed James McCarthy will miss out as he continues his recover from a knee injury but Wayne Rooney is fit to feature.
"He needs game time first in the U23s to play - that's the way how players need to come back after a long time being injured," he said of McCarthy's fitness.
"Wayne [Rooney] had a scan on his hand this morning and it is fine - there is no fracture."
