Everton would have known about Koeman’s demanding methods - aloof and uncommunicative were two common complaints on the south coast - when they appointed him 16 months ago.
Indeed, it was a major reason why he got the job ahead of Manuel Pellegrini. The board and senior players at Goodison wanted a boss to ruffle feathers after the softer regime of Roberto Martinez.
Whereas Martinez would let players and coaches queue up together in the canteen, Everton’s first-teamers now have to wait until Koeman and his staff are served before they get their food.
What may seem like a minor issue takes on significance when morale is at rock-bottom and players feel aggrieved at being treated like schoolkids.
Koeman has always given his brother Erwin the responsibility of taking training sessions while he stands apart until a correction has to be barked out. He has variously accused the team of lacking passion, aggression and self-belief this season.
Koeman usually keeps his office door shut. While he can be charming and a good listener, it doesn’t encourage players to go to him with problems.
