Ronald Koeman has claimed that Everton are scared of playing the ball forward.
Thursday’s Europa League clash with Apollon Limassol saw the Blues fail to secure a third straight win following victories over Sunderland and Bournemouth.
Goals from Wayne Rooney and Nikola Vlasic appeared to have condemned the visitors at Goodison Park only to be pegged back by a late Hector Yuste header.
It proved to be yet another disappointing result in a season of high expectations for Everton and Koeman believes it was a result of his side being afraid to play.
He said: “If you see the first 20 minutes, I think you know enough; every ball was back instead of playing forwards.
“Analyse the first goal, giving away the ball, not defending the striker, how you get your confidence back in a difficult period.
“The team is struggling and players are performing under the level what they can bring. There are difficulties on the ball and that’s difficult.
“You think after 2-1 we control the game, we had chances to score and then you get a draw. That’s not a good thing for confidence; it’s another difficult moment.
“It’s so difficult if you have many players struggling, they look for safe options and that’s difficult to play in.
“If you start well that gives energy to everybody first to the players and then the fans. How we started and conceded the first goal, then you keep struggling.
“They are fighting, I cannot say they are not running and fighting but they are afraid.
“As a manager, you can help and support and make it clear, give them confidence but at the whistle, I don’t play the ball back.
“It’s up to the player but we are scared to player forward, that makes it difficult.”