Ronald Koeman 'not unhappy' with Everton's attitude despite loss to Burnley

Ronald Koeman said he was "not unhappy" with Everton's attitude following their 1-0 defeat at home to Burnley.

Jeff Hendrick's first-half goal means the Merseyside club have won only once since the opening day of the season, with four defeats in five Premier League matches leaving Koeman's men just two points above the bottom three.

However, the Dutchman told Sky Sports after the latest setback: "I'm not unhappy what I saw from the team, they showed today how we have to play.

"If you play against a team who are defending so strong you need to be at your best. We didn't have that creativity.

"We don't have that type of player at the moment. Maybe Gylfi Sigurdsson or [Wayne] Rooney. Sigurdsson had that big shot at the beginning but we don't really have that creativity to bring them down in such a defensive shape."

When asked if his players lacked confidence after falling behind, Koeman added: "You always get a reaction, that's normal in this situation.

"It impacts the team, the fans, but I can't complain about the attitude or commitment of my players today. That was perfect. Of course we can play better on the ball.

"In this situation it is really disappointing but it's a different defeat than previous."

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Rooney thought he should have had a penalty in the closing stages when his flick-on from Sigurdsson's cross bounced on to Matthew Lowton's arm and Koeman said: "You know, sometimes you get the help of a referee.

"I don't say it was a penalty because it wasn't his intention to touch the ball - but on other occasions I've seen a penalty given.

"This situation is really disappointing. But we'll continue because what I saw today is how to come out of this difficult situation.

"I understand the whistles at half-time and I understand everybody is really disappointed by the final result."

Everton have just seven points from as many games and their performance against the Clarets was devoid of much genuine threat or hope of turning things around once they had gone behind to Hendrick's 22nd-minute goal.

Koeman, however, believes he saw enough in the display to give him confidence.

"It is not in my hands but I try to get the best out of the players," he said.

"If there is no commitment and no aggression that is maybe a reason to think about my future but I thank the players for their commitment today.

"I can't complain about my players today, They did everything. Maybe we could create more but it is not so easy against Burnley. You go down in the result, they are really defensive-minded, really physical.

"We tried everything, the commitment and spirit of the players was really positive and the final result was not.

"We started full of confidence. Some circumstances are against the players at the moment and that is really difficult at the moment."

Specifically asked whether he was the right man for Everton, Koeman said: "I don't answer this type of question. That is not the business at this moment."

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