Everton manager Ronald Koeman said he was at fault after his side’s Europa League defeat by Atalanta in Italy on Thursday.
The Toffees lost 3-0 against the Serie A side, with all the goals coming in the first half.
“I need to criticise myself because the team were not prepared for this tonight and that’s a question to myself,” he told BT Sport.
“They [Atalanta] showed more aggression, they showed more passion.”
Goals from Andrea Masiello, Alejandro Gomez and Bryan Cristante gave the home side a comfortable victory in their opening Group E game.