David Unsworth insists he has not been undermined by Everton’s failure to appoint a new manager as their search for Ronald Koeman’s successor approaches a fifth week.
Unsworth remains in caretaker charge for Saturday’s visit to bottom club Crystal Palace after Everton’s advances towards Marco Silva were flatly rejected by Watford. Farhad Moshiri, the club’s major shareholder, may return with an improved offer for Silva – who on Fridaycalled Everton a “big club” – next week, although the Portuguese coach has not agitated for a move and Watford, who declined an £8.5m compensation package for the former Hull City manager, maintain the 40-year-old is going nowhere.
Everton’s only win under Unsworth arrived against Silva’s team before the international break. Their only Premier League away success of 2017 came in January against a Palace side managed by Sam Allardyce, another candidate approached by the Everton hierarchy. Allardyce appeared to rule himself out of the running this week despite not being offered the job. “It would surprise me that anyone would rule themselves out of being Everton manager,” said Unsworth.
The club’s under-23s manager has made no secret of his desire to succeed Koeman on a permanent basis. A win at Palace, combined with Watford’s resolve over Silva, would promote that cause but Unsworth rejects claims the prolonged uncertainty has undermined his position.
“It doesn’t undermine me at all,” he said. “I can only control players on the training field, pick a team and go into every game with a gameplan. That’s no change to what I would normally do even if I was given a 10-year contract. It doesn’t matter, because what we have done so far is what we would do anyway. I have stayed away from most of the speculation and I am fully focused on coaching the team. Yes, they could have given me the job by now but I am still sat here, and what will be will be. I am totally fine with that.”
Unsworth admitted he had “not really been sounded out” about potential January transfer targets but resembled a protective Premier League manager when he claimed Morgan Schneiderlin and Kevin Mirallas were “fully committed” to Everton. The pair walked out of a training session before the win over Watford, in which they did not feature, having been accused of a lack of effort by the first-team coach, Duncan Ferguson. “There was no real story,” claimed Unsworth, adding: “Both were given an option of finishing their training and that was absolutely fine.”
Moshiri, the chairman Bill Kenwright and the director of football Steve Walsh have been accused of lacking direction in their handling of Koeman’s departure. “From my point of view it gives me an extended opportunity to be successful with the squad of players,” said Unsworth. “That question must be aimed at other people. I can’t answer that.”