Seasons2020-21Everton News
Ancelotti believes in Everton project

Carlo Ancelotti has been at pains to play down talk of his Everton side being in the 2020-21 title race, insisting, quite realistically, that it's a long season in a hugely competitive league, but he is clearly content to be in the job he took at Goodison Park a year ago.
The Italian has described on numerous occasions recently his delight at being at an ambitious club, a “family club” and he believes that the foundations are being put in place for lasting success for the Blue half of Merseyside.
Even if his team should find a way past Manchester City today and join Liverpool on points at the top of the Premier League table, his target of European qualification won't change. Beyond that, however, he is planning for bigger things and doesn't rule out staying with Everton beyond the terms of his 4½-year contract which expires in 2024.
“It will be the same,” he said in The Guardian. “We have to be honest with ourselves; we're not of the same level as some of the teams. We would like to be as soon as possible, and we're working towards this, but if you ask me today I would say we have to be honest about it.
“After one year, we have progressed really well and we would like to improve further next season.
“The project is very ambitious. We are building the new stadium and improving the quality of the squad,” he continued. “There are all the ingredients to come back to the top — to fight, to be competitive in England and Europe.
“I want to stay (past 2024) but it doesn't mean we can't be competitive before the end of this contract. We can win trophies before then. We have to continue to improve.”
Ancelotti sees parallels between his task at Everton and the one he undertook at AC Milan in 2001, one that became an eight-year stint and an impressive haul of trophies that included the Champions League.
“When I went to Milan in the first period they wanted to restore the club's history, like Everton now.
“This club wants to be competitive with the top teams in the Premier League. I don't know if it will be this year but for sure in the future we will be there.”
“To win the League today? In England this is difficult. There is no country where the competitiveness matches the Premier League.
“I don't feel pressure. I love what I'm doing. I feel really good coming here every day.”
Reader Comments (30)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 28/12/2020 at 09:13:42
Has Carlo got everything right? Clearly not, but where we were to where we are now and, perhaps even more importantly, where we are headed, it's just night and day.
3 Posted 28/12/2020 at 10:42:01
"I am really pleased because I found the right club, a nice club, a family club. I live in a nice area so, after one year, I can say I was lucky."
I don't remember having heard a manager say that: not Moyes, not Martinez (my favourite recent manager), not Koeman, not Allardyce, not Silva.
We've got to believe in Carlo – there will be bumps and setbacks along the way. But, as long as Carlo is motivated and the board continue to support him, I believe that he will take us to success.
4 Posted 28/12/2020 at 10:52:13
If only we could find a way for the doubters to believe in the project.
5 Posted 28/12/2020 at 11:10:14
Your favourite was hell-bent on getting us relegated and it was definitely on the cards. He didn't have an inkling how to defend even when in front. I assume you mean that glorious first season (except for the end of it). Fair play, kidda, here's to better times with a boss who breathes the same air as him... and that's about the only comparison. See you at the San Siro soon... 🤫😬
6 Posted 28/12/2020 at 12:21:45
A bold statement. I'd settle for one trophy. Despite the progress to date, I think winning a trophy is unlikely in his current contract. Maybe, if he stays on, the squad will have been sufficiently rebuilt to win something during his next contract.
7 Posted 28/12/2020 at 12:41:52
Of course, there will be those who get overly sentimental on his comments and those who will sit in the "well of course he would say that" camp.
For me, he touches a lot of bases there. Ambition and what sounds like a genuine affection for the club, the city and the job ahead of him. As long as he is our manager, I for one do not doubt his motives or intent and yes, I know he is being well paid, but his CV warrants that.
Interesting debate on Talk Shite this morning. In-between fawning over Allardyce, they moved onto style versus results. A Chelsea listener phoned in to give the view that fans just remember winning trophies, not how they played to win them. That clearly is a valid point, but interestingly he said that every now and then you are lucky to have a manager who can win and play with style, "like us under Ancelotti".
Still work in progress but I'm intrigued to see where we will be as a squad going into next season after another 2 transfer windows.
8 Posted 28/12/2020 at 14:00:07
but there is a cracker doing the rounds with Danny Murphy, showing all his biased wisdom from that same show the other week. Hence the title talkshite!
9 Posted 28/12/2020 at 14:14:47
Annoys me when his wages are brought up.
Fail to see the relevance to the ordinary fan.
If and when we win a trophy will the posters complaining about his wages say " I'm not going the parade, hes on 200k a week"?
10 Posted 28/12/2020 at 14:31:49
11 Posted 28/12/2020 at 14:34:34
City will be different. They possess a much greater goal scoring threat. However Ancelotti will have looked at ways of getting at them. City will play their usual keep ball and over commit at times. We need to be smart and quick enough to counter and hit them on the break. I wouldn't be surprised if we have periods of dominance in tonight's game either. We are capable of keeping the ball and probing for the right opportunities. The game will be won by the team who best executes their managers tactics. My money is on wily old Carlo out foxing young Pep.
12 Posted 28/12/2020 at 14:46:09
We've got the right guy. It doesn't guarantee anything, but I think he is perfect for us.
13 Posted 28/12/2020 at 14:49:32
14 Posted 28/12/2020 at 15:11:58
Its a shame we didnt have him from the beginning of the Moshiri project - but perhaps now is the right time for both parties.
Onwards and upwards.
15 Posted 28/12/2020 at 15:37:55
Julian, I work with a PSG supporting French colleague. He doesn't have a bad word to say about Carlo and I suspect he now secretly follows Everton as his weekly curiosity is getting to obvious!
I'll check out the Murphy clip Tony. Always good to be entertained by these so called pundits giving their expensively paid for "expert" opinion.
I don't know who the pundit was on the radio this morning but he descended into even more blatant drivel when suggesting Mourihno has never had a better striker than Harry Kane at his disposal.
Now I get opinions can differ and understand the drive to promote home grown English talent. Kane is undoubtedly good but Drogba and Ibrohamovic anyone?
16 Posted 28/12/2020 at 17:17:50
I'm currently reading his book "Carlo Ancelotti. Quiet Leadership. Winning hearts, minds & matches". It's a great and easy read which gives you a real insight to the man and how he operates.
Comments in the book from his ex-players, which are truly revealing, include:
Zlatan Ibrahimavic – "After playing under so many different coaches, in Carlo I finally met the best coach ever".
Cristiano Ronaldo – "Carlo's one of the best and most important people I have met in my entire time in football. With Carlo it's like family – you become part of his family."
John Terry – "Carlo's man-management was the best I've ever known in any of my managers. He is, for me, the ultimate."
Remarkable praise from 3 of the world's best and most decorated players.
The book really helps people understand the man we are so fortunate to have "at the reins" right now and why, in time, he will make us successful again. Read the book people. I promise you'll enjoy it.
17 Posted 28/12/2020 at 18:45:47
Carlo took us from 15th to about 9th as I recall and indeed we had a shocking finish to the season. Hopefully he will improve on that and get us into Europe by finishing 6th this season. The football at the start was pretty good, then was pretty poor but Ancelotti and his staff have since made us resolute when we were previously leaking goals for fun. I think that shows quality in management.
It's going to take time; the squad is still weak; players like Gomes and Gbamin still have it all to prove; other players need replacing (such as Pickford and Coleman) for differing reasons. This will all take time and patience but hopefully we have the right man at the helm; he certainly has the credentials and seems happy, content and motivated (whether for money or otherwise) which can only be of benefit to us.
18 Posted 28/12/2020 at 20:06:13
19 Posted 28/12/2020 at 23:47:32
Milik I would like to see arrive.
20 Posted 29/12/2020 at 05:16:57
21 Posted 29/12/2020 at 05:49:57
22 Posted 29/12/2020 at 09:56:41
I love Carlo but admit to having a bit of a wobble a few weeks ago during that terrible post-derby run. The man is a genius and I feel embarrassed to have ever doubted him.
23 Posted 29/12/2020 at 14:07:07
24 Posted 29/12/2020 at 14:12:00
25 Posted 29/12/2020 at 14:12:46
26 Posted 29/12/2020 at 17:13:40
I too see the parallels with what he do for us. The player types he is bringing in is very similar to what Rossoneri brought in, in his early seasons there.
So if we just hang on to him, I can almost guarantee he will deliver trophies within reasonable time. I am a fan off the guy for a reason.
27 Posted 29/12/2020 at 17:35:22
Apart from managing players and staff, Carlo also stresses the importance of managing upwards, dealing with the demands of club owners. He has dealt with the likes of Abramovich at Chelsea, Perez at Real Madrid and Berlusconi at AC Milan, I think that experience will be invaluable in dealing with our major shareholder whose judgment has been questionable in his time with us.
28 Posted 30/12/2020 at 07:50:18
A No from me.
29 Posted 30/12/2020 at 08:32:58
The perfect window for me, and I know this will be an even more unpopular wish, would be to sign Dele Ali as well, he would flourish under Carlo Im sure
30 Posted 31/12/2020 at 21:07:28
For years, Everton – or rather Bill – was trying to do it on the cheap with the next up-and-coming manager. They pissed about with Moyes, Martinez, Koeman and Silva. . . they didn't even get the cheap right, at considerable cost.
Ancelotti is a proven manager with Big Clubs. A season and a half into his tenure, Everton have spent more time this season in the Top four than out of it. He has done that with mostly players brought in by other managers. Everton this season will finish in the top six.
If Ancelotti was to be replaced, it would have to be a current ex-manager of Man City, PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid but definitely not Barcelona (poor sods). They don't have any excuses, they can read Spainish Newpapers.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
1 Posted 28/12/2020 at 08:46:52