Loads of Everton fans have been left livid after reports by The Athletic claimed a group of senior players blamed Carlo Ancelotti’s tactics for Sunday’s FA Cup Third Round defeat to Liverpool.
Assistant coach Duncan Ferguson is said to have laid out some home truths to the players in the immediate aftermath of the Merseyside Derby loss at Anfield, to which some of the senior members of the dressing room argued they had put in the effort to fight in the second half and nor did they thrown in the towel.
The club were beaten 1-0 by a youthful Liverpool side as boss Jurgen Klopp rung in the changes for the cup affair, by resting regular Premier League starters like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.
Members of Ancelotti’s coaching staff were left enraged by the performance seen by our players on Sunday, and particularly for their efforts following half-time.
Ancelotti was also left far from impressed from what he saw at Anfield, though members of the squad are said to have hit back by suggesting the Italian’s tactics were the reason behind our defeat.
The boss’ style is thought to be the reason behind the complaints, as players feel it is restricting what certain, unnamed members of the squad can achieve.
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Coming up against a side such as the one fielded by Klopp was a perfect chance to end our dire run against our inner-city rivals, with no wins over the Reds since October 2010 and last taking a victory at Anfield in September 1999.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to claims that senior players fired back behind the scenes at Anfield when Ferguson laid into the squad following the FA Cup loss…
Toxic group of players at the minute clear are day.
— Alex Thompson (@alexthompson24) January 8, 2020
Time for a cull…..
— Voice Of Reason (@VoiceOfBlue) January 8, 2020
This is even more shocking than the performance. Personally, I wouldn’t play any of them “senior players” again 🤬
— Gavin John (@John1Gavin) January 8, 2020
That Athletic article is the worst thing I have read about Everton since I can remember. Not the article but the attitude of the players. There is no way back from that! They will never learn. Only way is to bin them and replace with the likes of Gordon who will play for the club
— Rowland Luttrell (@Luttrrt) January 8, 2020
Who are the ‘individuals’? They need naming and shaming
— Michael moran (@michaelmoran198) January 8, 2020
That is outrageous and says a lot about this group of players. Obvious to a blind man that they weren’t trying to win the game in the 2nd half. And to blame a world class manager’s tactics…
Get them all out. They’ve seen the back of enough managers.
— honk if thatcher’s dead (@SkinnyPaolo) January 8, 2020
I could name the players who blamed the tactics and it’s the same players who need to be bin bagged and have been a disease in the club since they joined from day 1
— Andrew Burns (@andyefc94) January 8, 2020
Belter. Get rid of every single player who thinks that they performed well on Sunday, because that’s nowhere near the level of player I want to see in an Everton shirt.
— jakeclark (@_JakeClark_) January 8, 2020
Oh so the tactics were not to put in any tackles, misplace simple passes, fail to control the ball,not have any shots in the second half (on target) and play one two with the keeper every chance you get? In that case yes I blame the tactics
— simon (@si1979_efc) January 8, 2020
A mass chant of “your not fit to wear the shirt” should be in order on Saturday. These players need to know we’re not having this. Enough with the “get behind the team” nonsense. They’ve had it too easy for too long
— Tom Fox (@TomFox87) January 8, 2020
In other Everton news, the club have reportedly been blocked from signing a £13.5million-rated defender in the January window.