Prove you're magnifico, Carlo! Everton's European bid on a knife edge

Prove you’re still magnifico, Carlo! Everton’s desperate home form has caused Ancelotti’s team to falter in bid for Europe – and final day clash against Manchester City sees their season teetering on a knife edge

• Carlo Ancelotti cut a frustrated figure throughout Everton’s 1-0 win over Wolves 
• His side’s season may still go two ways ahead of their final Premier League game 
• There is much to be positive about at Everton but also a feeling of wanting more 
• Ancelotti knows what is needed for next year and will soon formulate his targets 

Carlo Ancelotti was in good form as he fielded questions on Friday; convivial and engaging as he looked forward to a positive future.

Like many managers, he has found press conferences via Zoom a bane and he wants to get back to a normal way of doing things.

‘I look forward to seeing you all in here soon!’ he said after revealing he would be happy to spend his summer break on Crosby beach. Ancelotti is in raptures about the part of Liverpool in which he lives and intends to be here for the long haul.

The European aspirations of Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton have been hit by their dismal home form

To see him this way, though, was a stark contrast to Wednesday after Everton had beaten Wolves 1-0. He glowered through the contest, frequently turned to his assistants in exasperation when moves broke down or went backwards and was unusually short in his post-match conference.

Those snapshots, in some way, represented Everton’s season as a whole. On one hand, there has been much about which to be positive. The best away record in the club’s history; ghostbusting victories at Arsenal and Liverpool, the emergence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ben Godfrey.

On the other, it is impossible not to feel it should have been so much better. The worst home form in the club’s history; Goodison Park defeats by two of the three relegated teams, and disappointing performances from individuals like James Rodriguez who are capable of so much more.

Ancelotti was in fine spirits for his recent media duties but Everton’s season is on a knife edge

As they face Manchester City on Sunday, the campaign can still go two ways: victory would propel them into Europe – Ancelotti’s aim – and enable them to secure their third highest points total of the decade (62) and second highest number of league wins (18) in the last 10 years.

Lose and they would have the same number of domestic defeats as 2015-16 when Roberto Martinez was sacked, a failure to score would mean they have their second worst goals for tally of the last decade (47) and they could even finish as low as 10th.

‘If we are able to reach Europe it will be fantastic, but I think it was a difficult and unpredictable season for everyone,’ Ancelotti said when asked if he felt an opportunity had been missed.

‘You have to consider this: there have been a lot of strange results during the season.

There is plenty to be positive about but also a feeling that Everton could have done much more

‘There have been a lot of defeats at home for all the teams, not only us. So I don’t think we have missed an opportunity. You have to consider the fact that we were able to compete until the end at the top of the table – fifth to eighth position.

‘It is a good season considering it was a difficult season for everyone. The team has improved and from this base, the team is going to improve next season for sure. We will be more competitive next season, I am sure of this.’

When Ancelotti makes such statements, they carry credibility. He is not biding his time in this job, and as he approaches his 62nd birthday, he remains as hungry as ever. He is out on the training pitches at Finch Farm every day, buried underneath a baseball cap and tooting his whistle as he gives orders.

He knows what needs to improve next season. He has spoken with major shareholder Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright in London recently and in the coming days he will meet sporting director Marcel Brands to formulate targets.

Ancelotti insists his squad does not need an overhaul but he knows what is needed to improve

Ancelotti is adamant that the squad does not need major surgery and he wants a dynamic winger as his top priority. He is also convinced that a new fitness regime for Rodriguez, designed around injury prevention, will enable the Colombian to flourish.

Still, you cannot help but wonder what position of strength Everton should have been in: when they beat Liverpool on February 20, the opportunity was there to push for the top four but that result at Anfield was vandalised by squandered points against opponents they should have beaten.

Reaching the Champions League is a crusade for Moshiri, who has invested more than £500million during his five years in charge, and Ancelotti is convinced Everton will get there one day. It is why this summer is as important as any in the club’s recent times.

Ancelotti is also convinced that a new fitness regime for James Rodriguez will help him flourish

‘I still believe we are on the right way to fight and compete for the first positions in the Premier League, considering also what happened this season,’ said Ancelotti. ‘We were really more and more competitive at the beginning of the season.

‘We didn’t know what would happen with the signings but this season confirmed the fact that we were really competitive, above all against the strongest teams in the competition, against United, Liverpool, Chelsea.

‘We got results from those games and that gave confidence to me and to the club for the future. We will put more quality in the squad – and we will play more attractive football.’

Share this article

Source: Read Full Article