Marco Silva has claimed Everton are singled out for criticism because of having a billionaire backer in Farhad Moshiri and his players must be “ice men” to ignore attempts to generate a crisis.
The Everton manager gave an impassioned defence of his team and methods on Friday having clearly been stung by the reaction to the error-strewn defeat at Bournemouth. Silva admitted Everton fans had every right to be frustrated with their team’s latest away defeat and Sunday’s performance at the Vitality Stadium. But he believes that fuelled broader criticism of Everton’s season that is unwarranted.
“In my opinion it is so easy to create a crisis inside Everton football club,” Silva said. “I know why but it is not my job to talk about that. I look at the table now and you have first position and then the second-placed team with 10 points. After that there’s a big group with eight points and a big group with seven points. Some of those teams on eight points prepared the season to be champion and I hear they are doing a fantastic season. Everton has seven points and it’s: ‘Big crisis, everything is bad inside.’ It is up to me as the manager to block that out. Was I happy with the last game? 100% no. We lost an opportunity to make a big statement at Bournemouth.”
Silva refused to elaborate on why he perceives Everton to be judged to a more critical standard than other clubs. When it was put to him that the club’s heavy spending under the major shareholder Moshiri was a factor, he replied: “Yes, but let me know if the other clubs don’t have owners as well and don’t spend big money. I know the reason but it is not for me to say it.
“It is up to us to block this out. In our dressing room and inside our club we have to close off from this.
“We give 100% commitment to our shirt, to our club and we are demanding of ourselves. We know our target and what we are fighting for. We have to show personality and everything else we have to block out like ice men and not give it a chance to come into our dressing room.”
