Roberto Martinez says Everton's experienced defensive partnership of Phil Jagielka and Antolin Alcaraz is not to blame for the Europa League capitulation.
The Toffees were seemingly brushed aside by Dynamo Kyiv in the Round of 16 second leg on Thursday night, losing 5-2 at the Olympic Stadium, to fall 6-4 on aggregate.
In the after-match press conference, Martinez was asked why English youngster John Stones was left on the bench but the Toffees boss had no qualms with the pairing he sent out.
"The defence have been very strong in the last two games. And I felt the communication and experience between them would be important today," he said.
"I think it is a case of the whole team not defending well enough.
"I don't think it was a case of the personnel. I think it was a case of Dynamo building a lot of momentum with their home crowd, with everything they hit going into the net, rather than us just being to blame, with not being able to defend a bit better."
