Nikola Vlasic has claimed Sam Allardyce left Everton’s players ‘terrified’ of supporters.
Allardyce found himself deposed at Goodison Park after barely six months in charge despite helping stabilise the club with a Premier League top-half finish.
Vlasic was sparingly used by the one-time England boss and joined CSKA Moscow on a season-long loan last summer since the arrival of Marco Silva.
But the midfielder has revealed the full extent that Allardyce’s brief time at the Blues.
“Everything changed after (Ronald) Koeman left,” he told Sportske Novosti.
“The football played under Big Sam was awful, if it could even be called football.
“In such football I do not have a place. The football team was terrified by everything – the fans mostly.”
Vlasic also believes that his parent club are attempting to model themselves on Tottenham with a substantial recruitment drive in the previous transfer window.
He added: “Everton has spent £100m last year on reinforcements. Only three players – Richarlison, (Yerry) Mina and (Lucas) Digne – cost about £90m.
“Everton are looking for great names and players from big clubs, like Barcelona.
“Despite these immense investments, the team is currently in the 11th place. That means there will be new, big purchases (in the future).
“I know (Everton) have decided internally that they will try to be the new Tottenham and join the biggest league clubs.”