Marco Silva insists he will not hide behind excuses for Everton’s dismal form.
Saturday’s trip to Southampton sees the Blues go in search of a first win on the road since March and improve on a record of just one victory in their last seven.
Pressure continues to mount on Silva as his side travel to the only team currently keeping them out of the Premier League’s relegation zone by just three points.
Misfortune has been a recurring theme in Everton’s season-long nosedive, most notably the horrific injury that Andre Gomes suffered against Tottenham.
Silva, however, is refusing to accept mitigating factors as a simple explanation for the state of flux in which the Goodison Park club currently finds itself.
He said: “Why would I find excuses? What will [it] change for me and our football club?
“Nothing changes if I come here to cry a little bit and start to make excuses before a match or whenever I start losing.
“I don’t do that. I prepare my players to win every time.
“We all know the situation. The circumstances are not the best for sure, but I don’t need to repeat [why] – all of you know.
“My job is to find solutions to give the support and my best every single day for my players to be better. This is what I want to do.
“It’s always my aim for each day I come here to Finch Farm to work.”
Despite accepting his current situation, the manner of Everton’s most recent defeat in a 3-2 reversal at Brighton a fortnight ago still rankles Silva.
A late controversial penalty undid the visitors’ hopes of back-to-back wins as well as their first under the Portuguese coach after conceding the game’s first goal.
And Silva believes events at the Amex were a sliding doors moment for his team.
“All of you know why we didn’t win that game against Brighton,” he added.
“I don’t need to repeat but it’s important because it possible [to be] our second win in a row and we are completely different now.
“It’s important for everyone to know because these are moments in a season that can put you in a different position or not, in a different mood and that was a key [moment].”
Silva has also not ruled out the prospect of Seamus Coleman reclaiming his place in the starting line-up since being displaced by Monaco loanee Djibril Sidibe.
The Everton captain’s suspension for a red card at Burnley opened the door for Sidibe to assume the right-back role for their last three Premier League fixtures.
“It’s good to have this competition,” admits Silva.
“Sidibe came [to Everton] late, just some days before the Premier League started.
“He didn’t do the pre-season with us so started a little bit steps back because the other knows the club and the Premier League, finished last season in a good spot. He’s our captain as well.
“Coleman started the season in a good spot. From the players, you have some good moments and some not.
“Sidibe got his chance against West Ham after the red card to Coleman. He did a very good performance and we kept to the same.
“Of course it’s normal in the Carabao Cup that you change some players and we changed to Coleman. He played, after came Sidibe again.
“It’s up to me to decide what will be the best option to play there.”