I’D LOVE THIS JOB
Caretaker Unsworth starts four-game audition for his dream role as Everton boss
DAVID UNSWORTH has stated his ambition to become Everton’s next manager and insisted he has been presented with an ‘amazing’ opportunity.
Everton’s board will not rush into making a decision about who will succeed Ronald Koeman but Unsworth, the Under-23’s coach, is in a position to present a persuasive case in the next weeks.
After discussions with chairman Bill Kenwright on Monday, Unsworth will take the next four games — starting at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup tonight — and he has made no secret of his desire to take the job permanently.
Unsworth has been caretaker boss before. In May 2016, he took the final game of the season in a 3-0 win over Norwich at Goodison Park. Ultimately, though, majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri wanted Koeman to take charge.
He was ‘disappointed’ to miss out 18 months ago and the club stalwart is realistic to know he could miss out again. If that proves to be the case — Sean Dyche, Marco Silva and Thomas Tuchel all being considered — it will not be for the lack of trying.
‘I don’t want to put any pressure on myself,’ said Unsworth. ‘What I want to do is help the players. I want to play the way I think we should. I want to help the players and give them as much information and confidence as possible.’
The best example of Unsworth’s passions for the club centred on Ross Barkley. The England international, who is currently out with a hamstring issue, will be a free agent at the end of the season but Unsworth spoke about him in a way that hadn’t been heard since Martinez was in charge.
‘I would absolutely love him to stay,’ said Unsworth. ‘He is a top talent, Everton has done great for him and he’s done great for Everton but he could be one of the alltime greats here. I would love him to be persuaded by myself, the chairman and Farhad to stay and sign a contract.
‘We shouldn’t be losing players of his quality. I feel very strongly we shouldn’t be losing our own players. I know he loves Everton. I want everyone to come together and hopefully we can thrash something out with Ross.
‘I’m going to enjoy it. I’m very thankful of the opportunity I have got now. How long will that be? I don’t know. I’m not going to sit here and tell you any lies. Results will dictate. But moving forward I’m keen to take on board a managerial position. I want what’s best for Everton.’
The circumstances in which Unsworth has stepped forward are far from ideal, with Everton having won two of their last 13 games, but the mood was lifted in training yesterday.
Unsworth, who will be assisted tonight by John Ebbrell and Joe Royle put on a lively session and is expected to make a number of changes.
He will make alterations to the team that was demolished 5-2 by Arsenal on Sunday, with James McCarthy expected to start in midfield for the first time this season, and, significantly, will demand that Everton play with a higher intensity.