Vitor Pereira has broken his silence on talks over the Everton manager’s role.
Pereira took the remarkable step of giving an interview to Sky Sports News on Wednesday despite the Blues yet to appoint on Rafael Benitez’s successor.
The 53-year-old appeared to be the forerunner for the vacant Goodison Park hot seat as the preferred candidate of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
News of Pereira’s potential appointment led to unconvinced fans daubing graffiti against him and in favour of Frank Lampard on the walls of Goodison.
And the Portuguese coach admitted that the move surprised him despite not taking it as a personal attack in a staunch defence of his managerial CV.
“This is the first time in my career that I see this kind of thing,” said Pereira.
“I never had in my career this kind of comment about me.
“My CV speaks for itself but I think this criticism is not to me, it’s the environment now because the club is not in a good position.
“The supporters have passion and I think this passion is the power of the club.
“I remember when I watched Everton games a few years ago and sometimes the spirit of the supporters won the game.
“Passion in football can have a positive or a negative side.
“What a manager should do in this moment is bring again the positive passion from the supporters. I don’t think these are personal attacks.”
Pereira has routinely been touted for the Everton manager’s position since 2013 and disclosed the details of his latest talks with the club’s hierarchy.
He added: “What I felt in the meetings was they were very positive with the interviews. I think they were enthusiastic what I proposed to them.
“I did my work and now the decision is not controlled by me. They have other candidates and this is a time for decisions.
“I just wait for the decision, be calm. I will move forward with my life and if they want me they must call me.
“Otherwise it is ‘Thank you very much and it was a pleasure to be here’.”
Meanwhile Everton fans staged fresh protests at Goodison on Wednesday evening as Moshiri continues to face challenges over his running of the club.
A crowd of concerned supporters gathered at the Dixie Dean statue to renew calls for the British-Iranian billionare to overhaul his board of directors.
It followed demonstrations outside Everton’s official headquarters at the Royal Liver Building on Tuesday and a sit-in after last weekend’s loss to Aston Villa.