Ronald Koeman believes suggestions Everton should finish in the top four this season are ‘ridiculous’.
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho had claimed that the free-spending Blues should be targeting Champions League qualification as a minimum ambition.
Over £140 million was spent in an unprecedented summer at Goodison Park but Koeman’s side are currently languishing in the Premier League’s bottom three.
A comfortable Carabao Cup win over Sunderland has helped ease the pressure on Everton after it ended a run of four straight defeats in all competitions.
While Koeman has shot down accusations that he lacks ambition, the Everton manager also outlined a sense of realism ahead of the visit of Bournemouth.
He said: “I know what we are and I know the way to be successful.
“It’s crazy, ridiculous to put a lot of pressure on the team by saying we need to finish in the top four. In my opinion, that’s ridiculous.
“Everybody has signed new players. We signed some young players, and [on Wednesday] we played with six or seven boys of 19, 20, 21, 22.
“That is the future, it needs time, and that is normal. Let’s make the next step.
“It doesn’t mean we don’t have ambition, because if there’s one person in football who has a lot of ambition, then it’s at this table.
“But I’m realistic, and in football, being realistic is sometimes difficult.”