New Everton manager Sam Allardyce has taken a swipe at Marco Silva.
Allardyce was appointed as Ronald Koeman’s successor earlier this week despite the Blues unsuccessful pursuit of Silva, which was rejected by Watford.
Everton offered up to £10 million in compensation in efforts to convince the Vicarage Road club to part with their highly-rated Portuguese coach.
But Allardyce, who has signed an 18-month contract, insists that he remains better suited to the task of reviving Everton’s fortunes than Silva.
The former England boss, 63, also highlighted his Watford counterpart’s track record in the Premier League after he was relegated with Hull City last season.
He said: “I don’t know what went on before with Marco Silva.
“All I know is that when Everton approached me I said ‘yes’ even though I was in Dubai at the time. I was not saying ‘Wait and see’, I was saying, ‘Yes, I am coming.’
“The club, I think, wanted to give David Unsworth the job first and foremost, but you have to see who is out there, you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.
“It’s a bit like the January window – if you hang around everyone who is any good has gone.
“Then because of the way results went it needed to be sorted out in 48 hours and it was sorted out in 48 hours, because I was available and ready.
“If you look at my track record why wouldn’t I be here, irrespective of Marco Silva? I have every respect for him and I am not criticising him.
“But Marco Silva’s track record has got no comparison whatsoever with mine because he got Hull City relegated.”