EVERTON manager Sam Allardyce believes he will remain in charge at Goodison Park next season and compared himself to Diego Simeone in his press conference today.
Allardyce, 63, confirmed he met with Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and plans were made to prepare for next season.
The former England manager was brought in to replace Ronald Koeman in November and has pulled the Toffees away from the relegation zone and his side currently sit eighth in the table.
Speaking to the media today ahead of Everton’s trip to Huddersfield tomorrow, Allardyce said: “We discussed plans for next season. We have some clarity moving forward now.”
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When asked if that meant he was staying, he reiterated: “Didn’t I just say that? For clarification, yes.”
Allardyce’s contract runs until the summer of 2019 and he has been happy with the season so far.
He added: “You always want to strive to do better, but because we started my reign so well, we built up great expectation it might be even better. We’ve achieved a good way forward in the space of five months.
“It’s been pretty satisfying. One always wants your team to do better, to win more, to achieve more but overall pretty satisfying.”
Allardyce has been under pressure from many Everton fans who are unhappy with the style of football on display from his side despite the creativity in the squad with the likes of Gylfi Sigurðsson, Yannick Bolasie and Theo Walcott.
Last week, the club sent out surveys to rate the gaffer out of ten with a series of statements to which fans replied with how strongly they agree or disagree with them.
Big Sam responded in typical fashion when he was quizzed about the survey by journalists last week, giving himself 11 out of ten for the job he has done this term.
Atletico Madrid boss Simeone was sent to the stands during his side’s draw with Arsenal last night but Allardyce sees similarities between his coaching style and that of the Argentine.
“Entertainment is the [mastering] of defence in Europe – Simeone.
“He’s called the master of defence. I’m called defensive and negative. We’ve not only achieved the goal [of staying up], we’ve played some extremely entertaining games.”
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