Ronald Koeman threatens to drop Everton players in holiday mode
Friday 5 May 2017 13:32, UK
Ronald Koeman has warned his Everton players they will be dropped if they take their foot off the gas.
Koeman's side have already secured seventh place in the Premier League, but face an uphill battle to overhaul sixth-placed Arsenal.
The Gunners, who visit Goodison Park on the final day of the season, are two points ahead with two matches in hand, leaving Everton's games with Swansea and Watford as potential dead rubbers.
However, Koeman is determined not to allow his players to switch off.
"Sometimes it is difficult because everyone starts to have the holiday feeling because we are already seventh in the table but then you need to take the motivation out of yourself," Koeman said. "We try to speak to the players to have the type of training sessions which keep the focus for the weekend.
"If I see someone (doing something) on the pitch that is not what I like or what I expect I can change three players."
Koeman has demanded a better performance from his side following last week's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea and insists there should be no excuses for switching off.
"We at least are professionals and we will put a strong team in (at Swansea) and that will show we have the feeling we would like to finish our good season strongly.
"Last week the opponent was too good but we need to improve.
"If my team is not motivated I am responsible because that is my job but I expect every player to be full of focus for every game."
The incentive to finish sixth means their Europa League qualification schedule would begin later and Koeman has not given up hope of catching Arsenal, possibly in their end-of-season showdown at the Emirates.
"It's a big difference between seventh and sixth," Koeman added. "With seventh you need to play for qualification in pre-season and that is always difficult.
"We still have a chance. We know we have played two more games than Arsenal but we have an opportunity to play against them in the last game and if we win the next two I think still we have a chance in the last one."
