Ferguson hails Toffees’ appointment

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Carlo Ancelotti was in the stands to see his new club Everton play out a drab draw with Arsenal at Goodison Park.

Ancelotti’s CV is a who’s who of Europe’s biggest clubs, but he has taken on a very different challenge in trying first to haul Everton away from the bottom of the table and then re-establish them as a team that can challenge for a top-six place.

The final game of Ferguson’s temporary tenure was forgettable, but the Scot has re-energised the club over the last four matches, with his only defeat coming on penalties against Leicester in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Ancelotti immediately confirmed he would be keeping Duncan Ferguson as part of his backroom staff, although his exact role remains to be decided.

“I think I said from day one that we wanted to bring in a world-class manager and we’ve got one, so I can’t wait to start working with him on Monday,” said Ferguson.

“I have had a word with the boss, he looks happy with me, I’m still in a job and I’m sure he’ll spell out exactly what he wants from me on Monday.”

Ancelotti went into the dressing room after the match, and Ferguson added: “He made a lovely speech, it was fantastic how he spoke to the players.

“Everybody’s on board. I’m sure he was very proud of the team. With him being in the stand, that’s going to give us a lift, that probably helped us.”

Ferguson admitted it was a very scrappy contest, saying: “A point, that’s the positive thing. We kept a clean sheet. It’s a long time since we’ve kept one of them.

“I thought we struggled a wee bit in the final third, but of course the team worked incredibly hard, they kept a good shape, restricted Arsenal to not too many chances.

“I think fatigue had set in a little bit.”