Everton manager Ronald Koeman insists he will need to be afforded time to mouldhis side into consistent title challengers, but believes a title challenge will not be forthcoming this season.
The former Southampton manager has so far enjoyed a bright start to his Everton career after being appointed as Roberto Martinez's successor this summer. The Toffees currently sit in seventh position and are just six points behind league leaders and Merseyside rivals, Liverpool.
Everton's positive start to the season comes after two seasons of frustration under Martinez, while the club have not tasted league success in over three decades, with their last major trophy coming two decades ago.
As reported byTeamTalk,Koeman believes it will take some time before league and cup success returns to GoodisonPark.
It is a long time since Everton were winning trophies and challenging for the title in England, but that is what we want to do,� the Dutchman said.This is a very big club and the aim is to be in the top positions again, challenging for the important places in the Premier League.
It takes time when you come to a club to get everything you want in place, but I understand that in this game now, you do not always have the time.
"Results are very important and while we say there should be more patience, that is just not how this game works now."
The 53-year-old is instead focussed on securing European football for the club this season, which he believes would represent progress.
The ambition this season will be challenging for European football," Koeman added.
We have introduced some new players last summer and it takes time to find the right balance in the team and to find consistency, but I feel it is not far away.
If we are competing for a place in the Europa League in my first season here, then that would be a good achievement. I think this is possible, but we can see a lot of teams with the same ambition as us in the Premier League, so it will not be easy.�