Duncan Ferguson calls for 'blood and thunder' from Everton players as he takes seat in the dugout

Everton’s Duncan Ferguson promised blood and thunder at Goodison Park as he introduced himself to Premier League management with a call to arms.

“We have to bleed on the pitch tomorrow,” said the Scot, who made his name bullying centre-halves in the early 90s.

Ferguson has temporary charge for Saturday’s visit of Chelsea after Marco Silva’s sacking, thrust into the limelight despite being famously reluctant to engage in media duties.

His press conference at Everton’s Finch Farm training base was stirring, funny, raw and - although brief - captivating. He revealed how he could barely sleep after being informed by owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright he would manage the team, so took a 2.30am bath to relax.

Then he urged his children - Gwladys Street season ticket-holders who were left emotional by news of their father’s promotion - to lead the chanting from the stands as Everton seek to escape the bottom three.

There were moments when Ferguson appeared choked when speaking of his pride, especially when asked if he could make his players care as deeply for Everton as him.

“Is that possible? Well, we all hope it is, don’t we?” he said.

“That is the kind of message we gave the players this morning. We have to bleed for this club.

“There is not a lot you can do in this situation, a short period of time. You keep the message simple. There will be a rallying cry to get blood and thunder, but we also have to be sensible because we know how good Chelsea are. They are a very good team and they can hurt you on the counter attack so we need a good defensive balance and then take it from there.”

There is deja vu for Ferguson. He joined Everton from Rangers in 1994 with the club in similarly dire peril after a poor start to the season, his goals the catalyst for a revival with Joe Royle’s famed ‘dogs of war’.

Now he assumes responsibility to ensure the next manager is not in a relegation dogfight.

“It is devastating isn’t it when you think of the results we have got and the position we are in the league,” he said.

“You are a part of that, as we all are. Everyone in Finch Farm - everyone in the stands - we are all feeling that. I have been here a very long time and it really hurts.

“I'll always believe that every Everton team is committed. I believe this team is committed. I believe in this squad. I believe they can turn it around and I believe that is what we will do.”

Despite the predictably colourful language of aggression and passion, Ferguson offered a reminder he is a qualified coach. After a spell in Mallorca post-retirement, he rejoined the club under David Moyes in 2011, initially coaching Under-8s, before working through the levels to become a first-team assistant to the last four coaches.

When Silva left, he and Ferguson shared a hug - the mutual respect between the pair obvious.

Although he is realistic about the possibility of becoming permanent Everton manager, Ferguson wants to show there will be more to him than fist-pumping.

“I have my ideas. I put them to the team and of course I will be picking the team. I know what I am going to go with,” he said.

“We've done a lot of analysis. The technical staff had already done a lot of preparation. It was a late one for me (on Thursday). I left here around 10.30pm and when I got home the kids were all still up crying their eyes out. I watched a bit of Chelsea and tried to relax a bit because there was a lot of stuff going on in my head. It is a big moment for myself so I just tried to calm myself and got two or three hours' kip. I had a bath at 2.30am and was back in here for 8am.

“For as long as they need me I will be here for them. I am here to steady the ship until they find whoever.

“You would never turn it down, would you? I was never going to knock it back. I will always be here for Everton. Always. We are Everton and I am part of that.”