Tim Howard has told his Everton teammates that their Europa League campaign cannot be used as an excuse for their Premier League woes this season.
The Toffees have won just four of the 10 games that followed their Thursday night labours in Europe's secondary competition, where they were eliminated by Dynamo Kiev last month.
After drawing 1-1 with Swansea City, Roberto Martinez's side sit 12th on 38 points and could yet find themselves dragged into a relegation battle.
However, goalkeeper Howard says that it would be a mistake to put their domestic disappointments down to their participation in the Europa League.
"That's something that's been talked about for the last five or 10 years but it's just a blanket statement people make. Champions League teams have to do the same thing," he told the Daily Mail.
"They play Wednesday and Saturday and it's tough but no-one blames Champions League football. No football team has a God-given right to be anywhere.
"We've put in honest performances but things just haven't gone our way. We could sit here and make a list of a thousand different things but it's not the Europa League or anything else."
The Merseysiders welcome Burnley to Goodison Park on Saturday.
Shane Callaghan
