Marco Silva has retaliated after Sam Allardyce questioned the Portuguese coach’s record.
There was no secret to the fact that Silva was Everton’s first-choice candidate to permanently replace Ronald Koeman but he could not be tempted to part ways with current side Watford.
The Toffees ultimately appointed Allardyce on an 18-month contract, with his top task being to save the Merseyside club from the drop.
And Allardyce insisted that Everton had made the correct decision, pointing to the fact that Silva’s most recent season in charge of a club ended in relegation.
“Let’s put it this way,” said Allardyce. “If you look at my track record, why wouldn’t I be here irrespective of Marco Silva?
“I have every respect for Marco Silva and I am not criticising Marco Silva but his track record has got no comparison whatsoever with mine.
“He got Hull City relegated [last season].”
Silva, at the age of 40, has already won the Portuguese Cup with Sporting Lisbon and the Greek title with Olympiacos while Allardyce has yet to win a major trophy as manager.
And the Watford manager, whose side find themselves in 8th place in the Premier League table, has claimed that it’s unfair to compare what the pair have done in management as Allardyce has a significant experience advantage.
But Silva has suggested that we return to the question about who has made a greater impact in their careers when he is in his 60s.
“I read what he said, but when he made this comparison it does not make sense,” said Silva.
“It is the same thing if I compare his work with a national-team coach like Gareth Southgate.
“It’s like me comparing the five goals Richarlison has scored in the Premier League with Peter Crouch [who has scored 207 goals in his club career]. Crouch is nearly 37, Richarlison is 20 – Crouch has played so many games [669] and Richarlison far less.
“Go and see what he was doing when he was 40 years old, or see what he was doing in his first seven seasons as a coach.
“Then look at what I am doing at the same age – or you can wait until I am 63 years old, and then we can compare what I have done.”
