Everton defender James Tarkowski has apologised to Toffees fans and said their 6-0 hammering at Chelsea in the Premier League is the greatest embarrassment of his career.
Cole Palmer scored a hat-trick during the first 29 minutes at Stamford Bridge before Nicolas Jackson fired in 15 minutes later, Palmer added a 64th-minute penalty and Alfie Gilchrist lashed in a 90th-minute strike.
“It will be a long debrief,” Tarkowski told Sky Sports News. “It’s the most embarrassed I’ve felt, as an individual and as part of a team, in my time as a footballer, which is a long time.
“It shows where we’re at. We can only apologise to the fans who spend their hard-earned money travelling the country supporting us, to turn up on a Monday night and witness that.”
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On a day when Everton formally appealed against their two-point deduction by the Premier League – their second punishment of the season – Sean Dyche’s side were left two points above third-bottom Luton Town with a game in hand.
Everton have won once in the top flight in 2024 and are the lowest scorers in the division apart from bottom club Sheffield United.
Everton ‘levels below’ Chelsea
“It’s on us as players, no-one else,” said Tarkowski. “The managers and staff give us everything we need to go out and perform and we didn’t.
“No excuses on our behalf – that was just nowhere near what we expect of ourselves. We need to brush ourselves down because there are a big few weeks coming up.
“The most honest bunch of players that I’ve worked with and ever seen”
Dele reflects on Everton’s defeat and how they’ll take tonight as a positive moving forward 🤞 pic.twitter.com/fGVgOJne5a
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 15, 2024
“I hope that anyone who saw that understands why I feel embarrassed. Chelsea looked like they were levels above us.
“It was nothing to do with technical aspects of the game; it was to do with tackles, people getting beaten and being ran off. It’s hard to summarise it in a short debrief.”
Nottingham Forest – the side immediately below fifth-bottom Everton – visit Goodison Park on Sunday (1.30pm BST).
“I’ve had dark times here a few times and one things these fans have always done is stick by us,” added Tarkowski. “Hopefully, come Sunday, they’ll be there for us again.”
