New caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson inspired Everton to a 3-1 victory against Chelsea.
Everton sacked their manager Marco Silva after their Merseyside derby loss to Liverpool on Wednesday.
The club announced the sacking of Silva on Thursday, ending the Portuguese tactician’s 18-month stay at Goodison Park. Everton said in a statement: “Everton Football Club can confirm that manager Marco Silva has left the club.”
Everton announced fan-favourite Duncan Ferguson – who has been a first-team coach at the club since 2014 – would take charge for Saturday’s match against Chelsea.
Everton’s last league title-winning captain in 1986-87, Ratcliffe told Sky Sports News.”I’m quite surprised, with the way results have been going, that they haven’t had somebody to come in straight away. A bit like Tottenham when [Mauricio] Pochettino left and [Jose] Mourinho came in for him.”
“They’ve had time to assess it and maybe approach somebody and that hasn’t been done obviously because they haven’t made a decision, or if they have got somebody that they have got in mind there’s a stumbling block along the way somewhere.”
He further added: “I think that’s the situation we’re actually in now. I think we need somebody to come in who knows something about the club to get us out of this mire really because we are hovering in a relegation battle. I’ve always said Pochettino and [Atletico Madrid coach Diego] Simeone. But they won’t come. I don’t think the position that we’re in, that it’s an attraction to them. But I’d like to see our names linked with them or we’ve actually talked to them to see what it would take to get them, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
But today we saw a new Everton side under Ferguson. Everton were sharper and snappier than they had been under Silva. It was evidenced by their 37 tackles, more than any other team in a Premier League match this season and the most that Everton have made in a top-flight game all decade.
Richarlison got the opening goal in the fifth minute before Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted either side of Mateo Kovacic’s first Premier League goal for Chelsea. The Brazilian was outstanding again at Goodison Park, opening the scoring with a towering header. He impressed throughout the match.
Ex-players as interim managers are a tread at the moment, but Duncan Ferguson played his moment in the limelight perfectly. His words since taking temporary charge have all been centred around effort, commitment and building a connection to keep fans engaged basically these were the qualities they were lacking under Silva.
Duncan Ferguson may not be the perfect long-term fit and yes, they rode their luck at times, but the players finally gave their fans something to get behind.
Ferguson told BT Sport whether he would stake a claim at having the job permanently: “No, honestly, I won’t be saying that. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m here for Everton, I’m here for as long as they want me here, and I’m sure they [the club’s hierarchy] are out there looking for their candidates, and rightly so.”
“We want the best guys in the world managing this football club, but this was an incredible experience for me, an unbelievable experience I’ll never forget. I’m just looking to get home and lie down, I think. We’re not looking ahead – I was just looking at this game and that is it, we’re savouring the moment. It’s three fantastic points.”
“I think you saw on the touchline how enthusiastic I was, but you know it’s one game, one result. I think I’ve answered the question [about going for the position].”
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said after the defeat: “We always knew they were going to have a go and they’ve got good players, they’re just in a slightly false position for whatever reason. I’m more worried about us. It wasn’t good enough from us, conceding three terrible goals from our point of view.”
“We know Richarlison is good in the air on crosses and the last thing you want is to go one down early here, then they can be organised and make things very difficult for you. We got in their box so many times and [were] not getting shots away, trying to walk it in at times, so [there were] lots of things I wasn’t happy with.”
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