Everton entered the Super League season as a cocky outsider, aiming for a top-three finish.
After five rounds, it is safe to say that the Liverpool club has been taken down to earth.
Four big losses against Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City again (in the cup) were enough for the management's confidence in coach Willie Kirk to drop to zero.
Just before the ongoing national team break, the shots were fired.
Everton's three Swedish national team players, who all joined this summer, did not expect this.
- It came as a shock.
At the same time, we have not reached the level and not at all got the results we wanted.
It will be very interesting when you come home and see what happens to the team and what we can do in the league, says midfielder Nathalie Björn.
Lyon coach can replace
Hanna Bennison's reaction was similar.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who is seen as one of the football world's greatest talents, is worried about what Willie Kirk's sortie will mean for himself.
- Yes, there will be little.
There was a little security in Willie.
But at the same time, I just think it's about playing well, because then you get to play.
It's just to show what I can do and do my best and I think I can play anyway, says Bennison.
- But it is very sad that he has left.
It felt like he believed in me a lot.
No successor has been announced, but former Lyon coach Jean-Luc Vasseur has been singled out as Everton's first choice.
The third Swede in the team, striker Anna Anvegård, is apparently less worried about the change of coach than her compatriots.
- I do not know if I'm a little naive, but I do not feel any major anxiety.
I've been through coach changes before.
Are you just good enough and show it at every training and when you get the chance in the matches like that, says Anvegård.