Vitor Pereira has admitted to being “hurt” at a campaign by Everton fans to get him ‘out’, even before he has been appointed as manager of the club.
But the Portuguese coach was adamant that the criticism of the Blues supporters was just an example of the “passion” they feel for the club, and the hurt at some disastrous form over the past few seasons.
And Pereira insisted he is still very much still in the running for the vacant job, as he revealed that the club’s owner Farhad Moshiri has told him to be calm and patience as they work towards unveiling a new manager.
He remains owner Farhad Moshiri’s number one candidate for the job, and he insisted that despite reports to the contrary, he will not walk away just because of fan passion.
In a lengthy and measured interview on Sky Sports, the former Porto and Fenerbahce manager said: “Of course (I am hurt by the criticism) because this is the first time in my career I have seen this kind of thing and comments about me.
“My CV speaks for itself. But I think these critics do not understand me. It is the environment now because the club is not in a good position.
“The supporters have passion and this passion is the power of the club. The passion in football can be to the positive side and negative side. I do not take this as a personal attack.
“In my opinion some of the critics do not know me, they do not know me as a person or my work. They do not know my CV. We got several titles.
“Before you start work and know the person, you cannot judge. I understand the feeling of the supporters because in the last years the club did not get good results and it is normal that they are not happy.
“But I came here with spirit and intention to bring again good football and the spirit of the supporters. This is my target."
Pereira insisted he still remains very much in the hunt for the job, and dismissed suggestions that he was ready to walk away, after fans daubed slogans on the Goodison Park walls protesting at his appointment.
Asked if he still wanted the job, he said he did - and revealed that he wants to make Everton a fortress again, but bringing the passion the fans have back behind the team.
“Of course,” he said, when asked if he still wanted the job. “I did my work as a professional and now it’s the club’s decision. I came for a meeting. I did my work. And now the decision is not controlled by me.
“A few years ago I remember the time of Baines, Jagielka, Howard and I remember Goodison Park as a fortress and that is what appeals to me,” he said.
“This is an historical club. The challenge for me is to approach the spirit of the club and fans to get this fire on the pitch that I watched a few years ago.
“I’m not the manager but I think the first decision as a manager in the club is to bring again the organisation and the way to press - the pressing game - and the intense game I saw a few years ago at Goodison Park.
“To see a match at Goodison Park inspired me. It is very difficult to play there.”
Despite the fan protests, Pereira remains owner Farhad Moshiri’s preferred choice to replace Rafa Benitez, and he still intends to move forward this week towards an appointment.
And the former Porto boss said that he has been told to be patient…and is ready to do so. “They just said to wait for the decision and to be calm, they are grateful for the interviews, and that’s all,” he said.
“What I want to tell you is that all of my career I have worked under pressure. I have worked at clubs where we cannot draw a game. This is how I live, with the pressure.
“I think they were enthusiastic about what I proposed to them. We need to give confidence to the team. I felt in the meeting they were very positive.
“They have other candidates and this is the time for decisions. We wait for the decision.
“I will move forward with my life and if they want me they must call me. That’s all.”
