Koeman pointed out in response, as quoted by the Telegraph, that his new arrivals need to be cut the same slack as Mkhitaryan after he made little impact in his first season.
“I read the United programme and what my colleague [Mourinho] said about Everton spending £140m and so they need to go for the top four,” Koeman explained. “I’m sorry. If there’s anybody in this room and outside and sees this as something realistic for us, please comment. Be realistic. I’m not happy how we started the season, but please be a bit realistic about Everton. We need time, but it’s difficult in football.
“Every manager in life has doubts. There is no one who has no doubts in life, in football, and if you don’t win… you have doubts as to the system to play but that is normal and of course I ask myself the question, why, why?
“But if [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan [the United midfielder] gets one year to adapt to the Premier League, we have eight new players, maybe I give them one year to adapt.”
Mkhitaryan was in the United team that swept Everton aside, scoring his first goal of the season to add the five assists he has supplied.
The Armenia international is becoming an increasingly crucial player for United but struggled for the majority of his debut season following his £37million transfer from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
Mourinho was critical of Mkhitaryan’s condition and fitness in the opening half of 2016-17, although he did play a key role later in the campaign in their Europa League triumph.