Everton lost 5-1 at home to Atalanta on Thursday night.
Wayne Rooney of Everton shows disappointment at the final whistle against Atalanta
Everton manager David Unsworth has told the club’s official Twitter account that he asked his players to make it hard for him to drop them – but they actually made it easier.
The Toffees were in Europa League action on Thursday night, hosting Atalanta at Goodison Park with their hopes of qualification to the knockout stages already over after taking just one point from four games.
Having lost 3-0 to Atalanta in the opening game of the competition, Everton were hoping for better on Thursday night – but it actually got even worse.
Atalanta players celebrate victory against Everton
Bryan Cristante put Atalanta in front in the first half before Joel Robles saved Alejandro Gomez’s penalty, only for Cristante to notch a second from a corner.
Sandro Ramirez finally scored his first Everton goal to make it 2-1, but Robin Gosens fired home a stunning strike for Atalanta to restore their two-goal lead, before Andreas Cornelius bagged a late brace.
Everton’s Europa League campaign – and their season as a whole – is lurching from bad to worse, and caretaker boss Unsworth’s chances of landing the job have taken a potentially fatal blow.
Unsworth doesn’t have much time to dwell, as Everton face Southampton this weekend, and his team selection for that game could be fascinating after his post-match comments.
Unsworth told the club’s official Twitter account that he told his players to make it difficult for him to drop them against Southampton, but their dismal performance after that message has made it easy to leave certain players out.
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