Everton briefly moved their way into the top four with their 1-0 win over West Brom on Thursday night, but Ashley Cole still isn't convinced by their credentials.
Carlo Ancelotti's side later slipped down a place after Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0, but the Toffees have a game-in-hand on the west Londoners and can move back into the Champions League spots if they keep on winning.
In fact, should Everton win their game in hand, they would move to within one and two points of Leicester City and Manchester United in third and second respectively, while also distancing themselves from Liverpool by six points.
But Cole is not completely convinced by the Toffees' top-four credentials.
He expressed his doubts over Everton's challenge following the victory over West Brom, citing the lack of intensity in the team's pressing as a potential shortcoming.
"If I’m really, really honest and want to break it down about the challenge for the top four, they’ve got to work harder, for me," he said on Sky Sports.
"Off the ball, they’ve got to press with a little bit more intensity. I see players at 0-0, 70 minutes in, they’re walking, not really getting at it.
"Again, that’s what I’m saying, when you’re fighting for your dreams - as Carlo said - you’ve got to work a little bit harder, for me."
Meanwhile, Ancelotti admits that he and his players must continue to work hard and sacrifice themselves to secure a top-four finish.
"We are in the fight but you need to sacrifice until the end," he told Sky Sports after the West Brom win.
"There's more pressure because we are in the fight for Europe, we want to be there and we have worked really hard to be there.
"This is our step and it's our target. We have to step up a bit. There's more [to] sacrifice because the position now is good but unfortunately it's not the end of the season.
"I feel really good, if I look at the table I am really happy.
"We have to be pleased to be there but we know we have to fight. I think at the start of the season no one could say Everton, after 26 games, would be there.
"The dream is the Champions League, it would be fantastic to follow this dream. It's a step in the career of everyone."
