That was the frank assessment of Sean Dyche following a chastening evening in the capital for his Everton side – but that could just as easily have been about his own performance.
From the first minute during the 6-0 drubbing on Monday Night Football, it was obvious that reports of Chelsea’s demise had been greatly exaggerated.
Dyche, alongside his assistants Steve Stone and Ian Woan, had set the team up to go toe-to-toe with a side that would prove superior in all areas. The manager will have taken a long look at himself after the way he set his Everton team up. They were far, far too open.
It was a lesson and the worst possible start to a huge week on the pitch for a club that has been pushed from pillar to post off it – and that’s just this season.
To his credit, James Tarkowski fronted up moments after the final whistle, telling Sky Sports: “[It will] be a long debrief that. We underperformed, and it’s the most embarrassed I have felt as an individual and as part of a team as a footballer.
It shows where we are at today. We can only apologise to the fans who supported us. It is on the players, it is not on the manager and the staff. No excuses on our behalf, we need to brush ourselves down as we have a big few weeks coming up.”
Nottingham Forest visit Goodison Park on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Both clubs have been the subject of points penalties – and the Premier League says it will seek to ensure the outcome of the respective appeals against deductions imposed earlier this month is known before the last round of top-flight games on May 19.
Everton were docked points by an independent commission last week for an admitted breach of top-flight profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), and have now formally lodged an appeal.
It means PSR appeal processes involving Everton and Forest, who sit just above the Premier League relegation zone in 16th and 17th respectively, are ongoing. Forest’s hearing against a four-point PSR sanction is understood to have been scheduled in the week beginning April 22.
Luton – two points behind Everton in 18th – face Brentford at Kenilworth Road on Saturday at 3pm, meaning Rob Edwards’ side could leapfrog both sides directly above them before a ball is kicked on Merseyside.
Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: “We’ve been saying for a while now, ‘it’s a huge game at Goodison and the crowd will get them over the line and keep them up’. I think that will probably be the same, but they ask too much of the supporters.
“Fans left early against Chelsea, but what do you expect? This has been going on for years. For years, Everton have been sacking managers and fighting relegation and worrying at this stage of the season.”
