Football
John Brewin, ESPN FC 6y

David Unsworth 'proud' of Everton despite Carabao Cup exit to Chelsea

LONDON -- Caretaker Everton boss David Unsworth said that Everton gave a "proud performance" despite losing 2-1 at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

Unsworth said he hoped to succeed Ronald Koeman, who was sacked on Monday with Everton in 18th place in the Premier League, but failed to find a win in his first match in temporary charge.

Goals from Antonio Rudiger and Willian saw Chelsea through to the quarterfinals, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goal coming too late for a revival.

"I don't know," said Unsworth when asked about his candidacy. "I honestly don't know. All I know is that we'll hopefully be as committed as that every game that I'm in charge.

"I'm scheduled to meet on Friday afternoon with the chairman, but I spoke to the chairman, two, three, four times today. What will be will be. I just have to be committed. We have to try and win some games. There's an awful lot to work with there. It's a very proud performance tonight.

"There's no points return or game total that we've been set. We'll just plan game-to-game. What's happened has happened. I can only influence the training sessions and the games going forward. What's gone on before is history."

Unsworth picked a markedly different team to the one that lost 5-2 to Arsenal on Sunday, with teenage midfielder Beni Baningime making an impressive debut in midfield and James McCarthy, Kevin Mirallas and Aaron Lennon returning to the starting lineup.

"Sometimes you stumble across a formula," Unsworth said. "Beni wasn't in the team last night. Morgan Schneiderlin was taken ill, and sometimes that opens the door for a young player. With me in the under 23's he's been outstanding.

"I'm pleased but not too pleased, because we lost the game."

Unsworth revealed he is scheduled to meet Everton owner Farhad Moshiri on Friday after the vastly-improved performance against Chelsea.

"I'm scheduled to meet [Moshiri] on Friday afternoon with the chairman [Bill Kenwright].

"I speak to the chairman two, three, four times a day, so communication is brilliant. I've got a great relationship with the board. What will be will be: I just have to be committed. We have to try and win, and take it from there.

"There's no points return or games total they've set: we'll just continue to work and plan game-to-game.

"All I know is that we'll hopefully be as committed as that in every game that I'm in charge, and hopefully get on a winning run.

"We started with a great performance; we've got to go on a winning streak and very, very quickly, hopefully at Leicester (in the Premier League) on Sunday. I'm quite excited to take that on and work with everybody.''

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