Everton Women interim manager Chris Roberts all but ruled himself out of becoming the team’s permanent manager next season after his side’s 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester City.
The Blues slumped to a disappointing defeat at Manchester City’s Academy Stadium and were eliminated from the FA Cup.
After when quizzed on his future beyond the season, Roberts said: “I’ve been clear from day one as interim manager with the club and the players – I had no kind of ambition to have the job for myself.
“I’m here short term to do the best I can and make sure the team is in a good place for whoever comes in.
“I want to make sure they’ve got a strong platform to build from, rather than starting again.
“I’m still contracted for another year as assistant manager, and I’m doing everything I can to make sure we are in the best possible place for when a new manager comes in.”
Everton have endured a difficult campaign and Roberts is the third manager to take charge of the team this season, following the sackings of Willie Kirk and Jean-Luc Vasseur.
The Toffees and Kirk parted company in October after picking up just six points in five matches.
It was expected that 2020 Women’s Champions League winning coach Vasseur would turn around Everton’s fortunes, but one win in six league matches saw the French manager dismissed after less than three months at the helm.
Interim boss Roberts has helped steady the ship, winning three matches out of his seven in charge.
Back-to-back heavy defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City may have dented the Blues’ confidence, but Roberts believes his team won’t be affected.
He told Merseysportlive: “The confidence has to be driven from what this group do on a day to day basis. It can’t be affected by a win or a loss.
“The confidence needs to come from hundreds of hours on the training pitch and the inner belief that we’ve put the work in.
“It has to come from a vision that we follow and the work ethic everyone has got. Confidence won’t be affected by results against Man City and Chelsea.”
In truth, Everton and Manchester City are worlds apart right now, proven by the three meetings between the sides this season – City have won 4-0, 5-1 and 4-0.
Chris Roberts spoke following today's defeat.#MCIEVE pic.twitter.com/h8Iyq1udRq
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) March 20, 2022
“Ultimately, conceding from a set play early in the second half has changed everything in terms of our approach,” said interim Everton Women boss Roberts.
“It forced a change of shape and forced us to be more expansive and City took advantage of that.”
It doesn’t get any easier either for Everton, as the Blues will face City away again on Wednesday in the WSL, followed by a trip to Old Trafford.
