Lukaku and Ashley Williams' on-field row at
Manchester United and feels his Everton players
are often too nice to one another.
Centre-back Williams remonstrated with Lukaku
during the second half of Tuesday's 1-1 draw at
Old Trafford, apparently unhappy with his
colleague's efforts in defending from the front.
The Belgium international responded by gesturing
in Williams' direction, raising a finger to his lips.
Amid the backdrop of Lukaku refusing to sign a
new Everton contract and being linked with a move
away from Goodison Park, the sight of him arguing
on the field with a senior team-mate could be
viewed as ominous.
Not in the eyes of Koeman, who is keen for the
Toffees to develop a harder edge.
"What I like to see is passion and they need to
understand we need to support each other, but
finally I saw a reaction because in this case I think
we are too nice together," the former Netherlands
defender said at a news conference to preview
Sunday's match with Leicester City.
"You have to ask, you have to talk and maybe
sometimes you need to shout. I don't have any
problem with that because it's also an emotional
part.
"The two boys spoke already to each other and
there's no problem. I like this because you need to
do everything to win the game and after you can be
friends, but not on the pitch."
Everton lie seventh in the table, seven points ahead
of West Brom immediately below them, and
Koeman is relishing having a tilt at the big guns
above during the closing weeks of the season.
"We are fighting for European football, maybe that
is something to realise for everybody," he said. "If
you finish seventh, it's a really successful season.
If we get more out of that, then it's fantastic.
"I expect if we get six points out of the next two
home games with Leicester and Burnley that we
will fight for the fifth and sixth places."
Everton will assess the fitness of Morgan
Schneiderlin before they face the reigning Premier
League champions. The midfielder missed the trips
to Liverpool and United with a calf injury.
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