Source: Liverpool_Echo
Louis Saha: Everton FC are performing like a band of brothers again
THE scoreline was appalling, the criticism was disparaging and the atmosphere around Finch Farm was as flat as it has ever been.
But amid the fallout of that disastrous 6-1 opening day defeat against Arsenal, there was one accusation that really struck a chord with Everton's squad and hammered home just how poor their performance had been.
It was, of course, the suggestion that they looked anything but a team; the more they fell behind, the more it appeared that some were simply playing for themselves, meaning evidence of the unity which had served them so well last season was thin on the ground.
Fast forward to Thursday evening, however, and there were spells against SK Sigma Olomouc when it was like watching the Everton of old, a band of brothers, fighting, tackling and passing for one another, all working towards a common goal.
Ask Louis Saha for his thoughts on why there was such a difference between the two performances, though, and the answer he provides shows there is no sign of any irreparable cracks appearing in the dressing room.
Joleon Lescott's poor attitude and subsequent axing from the squad may have brought a flurry of unwanted publicity but Saha refuses to use that saga as an excuse. As he sees it, if glory is shared collectively, the same must happen with any criticism.
'We had a really bad start last Saturday, so we were really up for the game against Olomouc and we hopefully showed with our performance that Arsenal was just a blip,' said Everton's number eight, who scored twice in the 4-0 European victory.
'You may say we looked like 11 individuals but we lose together as a team. That must always be the way. It was really hard but we bounced back; that is because we worked so hard on the training pitch and we wanted to get that reaction. We showed we are a team.
'If you have all the headlines and stuff like that, this means you have got quality in the team. People chase your players if they think they are quality. Joleon is a player here with great quality. It was just so important for us to get a great result and move on.
'Now we have to go over there and finish the job. Yes, we have a big lead but things aren't done. Olomouc showed they have some quality and they put us under pressure early on. But we put in a shift and we must make sure we get our rewards over there.'
Before the return leg in the Czech Republic, and the inevitable progress into the group stages, Premier League business resumes tomorrow with a trip to Burnley, a team that are guaranteed to be riding on a high.
