Everton's David Unsworth 'couldn't care less' about Joey Barton criticism
Sunday 29 October 2017 20:31, UK
David Unsworth says he "couldn't care less" about Joey Barton's comments criticising his ability to be a football manager.
Claude Puel started life at Leicester with a 2-0 win over Everton on Super Sunday, which left the Toffees marooned in the relegation zone after a dismal start to the season.
Unsworth is taking caretaker charge following the sacking of Ronald Koeman and remains among the front-runners for the full-time job but his influence had little affect on Everton's performance level.
Barton, who now works as a football pundit after being banned from professional football for breaking betting rules, claimed on talkSPORT that Unsworth is just a "glorified PE teacher" and also criticised his weight.
When asked about Barton's comments, Unsworth said: "It's not a problem what Joey Barton says - I couldn't care less."
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Everton were punished by Leicester's pace on the break as Jamie Vardy (18) and a heavily-deflected Demarai Gray effort off Jonjoe Kenny (28) gave them an early advantage.
Unsworth was frustrated with his team's first-half showing.
"Today's first half was not acceptable but we reacted and dominated without getting the result our performance justified," he told Sky Sports.
"I'll pick teams which I think will win any game of football. But it doesn't matter on reputation or value on that player.
"Whoever becomes Everton manager, myself included, needs time with this set of players because you all have your different ideas on how you want to play. I certainly do and you need time to implement those ideas."
Chances were few and far between for Everton in a game Leicester controlled, although they had a good shout for a penalty turned down just before half-time when Aaron Lennon was challenged by Christian Fuchs.
"I'm told it was a penalty - although I couldn't really see," Unsworth said.
"I always look for the reaction of the players and they looked like it was nailed on. It would've been a different team talk had we got in at half-time at 2-1."
