Carlo Ancelotti told his beleaguered players to forget about the Champions League following Everton’s humiliation at Chelsea.
The Toffees were demolished by the rampant Blues, who provided Ancelotti’s side with a harsh reality check following tangible signs of improvement.
Ancelotti stopped short of questioning his team’s commitment after the defeat at his former club - but made it clear he was unhappy with some players’ application during an embarrassing afternoon.
The former Real Madrid boss believes he can eventually lead Everton to Champions League football - but yesterday's poor performance should act as a reminder of how far Everton still have to travel before they can think about gatecrashing the Premier league's top four.