Ferguson Vows 'Confident' Everton Will Embrace United Test

Duncan Ferguson is promising his “confident” Everton side will be “up for the challenge” of trying to overcome resurgent Manchester United on Sunday.

Caretaker manager Ferguson has detected a “feelgood factor” in his squad after Saturday’s rousing victory over Chelsea.

The Scot admitted his attention turned to the prospect of tackling United in the immediate aftermath of overseeing that memorable Goodison Park display at the weekend.

Everton confirmed on Wednesday Ferguson would remain in charge for the visit to Old Trafford.

And he insists United’s cavernous home stadium – where Ferguson struck twice in a match for Everton in 1996 – represents a perfect platform for the Blues to underline their upturn in form.

“When you play against the best, you want to show them you’re the best,” Ferguson told evertontv.

“I am sure that will be the players’ attitude on Sunday.

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02:10 Wed 11 Dec 2019

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“We have to make sure we create chances and get in the final third. We can do that.

“Going away to Old Trafford is tough at any time.

“United have had a lot of positive results recently. They are off the back of a derby win and a top team, so it is going to be incredibly difficult.

“But the players are up for it.

“Saturday was a fantastic result for us and we have confidence because we won the game.

“We have continued the feelgood factor [in training] and that is what happens when you get a result.”

Ferguson was appointed to his caretaker post less than 48 hours before Everton faced Chelsea last week.

He used the limited time available to concoct a gameplan which overpowered Frank Lampard’s team, with Ferguson’s twin strikeforce of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison the source of all three Everton goals.

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04:13 Wed 11 Dec 2019

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Former Everton forward Ferguson, who scored 72 times in 273 appearances for the Club, was nevertheless quick to compose his thoughts in case he was asked to continue for this weekend’s game.

The 47-year-old is steadily implementing his plan to face a United side which followed up a home win over Tottenham Hotspur by beating closest rivals Manchester City last week.

“I have been a coach for a very long time, so the training ground is where I feel most comfortable,” added Ferguson.

"I am leading the team and enjoying the experience.

“When the game finished against Chelsea [I started planning for United].

“You have it in your mind you could be in charge for the next game, so you start thinking right away about Manchester United.

“I have my ideas and we start putting those across to the players as the week goes on – with videos and training sessions and one-on-one meetings.

“And we’ll get into the gameplan towards the end of the week.”

On the psychological boost afforded by Everton’s success against Chelsea, Ferguson added: “We have noticed the lift everywhere in the city, at Finch Farm and on the training field.

“The players are delighted, now we have to go again.

“We continued the positive message in the first few days of training after the game, got our ideas over to the players of what we were looking for.

“That is what we’ll continue to do.”