‘We have to say no’ – Carlo Ancelotti dismisses Everton PL title talk
Everton might be flying high in second place but manager Carlo Ancelotti has rejected talk of Everton contesting for the Premier League title this season, despite his side sitting only three points behind bitter rivals Liverpool.
After edging Sheffield United 1-0 at Brammall Lane on Saturday to record their fourth successive Premier League victory, there have been whispers that Everton could be challengers for the league this season.
This impressive run of form includes wins over Chelsea and Leicester, both sides who have won the Premier League in recent years. Beating Leicester, in particular, is likely to have fans dreaming, as the un-fancied Foxes battled from relegation candidates in 2014/15 to title winners a year later.
But, as Connor O’Neill reports in the Liverpool Echo, Ancelotti has downplayed the notion of a first Everton league title since 1987. The Blues boss said: “No. I think realistically, we have to say no. We are really pleased to be where we are, but I think that our target hasn’t changed.
“There’s a lot of competition in the Premier League and a lot of fantastic teams. We’re happy to be second, but our target is to play in Europe next season. That hasn’t changed.”
Everton play Manchester City in their match (December 28), and a victory for the Toffees against an elite side like City will do little to quell talk of an Everton title charge, but Ancelotti will be sure to do his very best to keep that noise outside the confines of his dressing room.
Tactical tweak at full-back shores up defence
With the early-season flurry of goals from striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin drying up, Everton seemed to have refocus their efforts into the defensive side of their game, and it’s a tactic that is paying off for them at the moment, as evidence by the form of young defenders Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate.
Everton have kept three clean sheets in their last four Premier League games, and have not conceded in open play since a Robbie Brady goal for Burnley on December 5.
The last time they conceded more than once in a league game was on November 22, a 3-2 win at Fulham which was the seventh time they had done so in nine Premier League games at that point.
Clearly, Ancelotti knew something had to change if Everton wanted to improve and push for the European spots.
Godfrey’s introduction to the team in place of the injured Lucas Digne could be one reason for the change in defensive record.
A centre-back by trade, Godfrey has been impressing at left-back recently, with his robust style of play ensuring more solidity to the Everton backline.
As a result of the right-footed Godfrey lining up on the left flank for Everton, Calvert-Lewin has missed the natural crossing abilities of Digne, which could explain his record of one goal in seven games since the Frenchman’s injury absence.
Holgate, another natural centre-back, has also featured more heavily for the Toffees in recent weeks, starting the last four league games at right-back in place of Seamus Coleman.
While there may come a time that Ancelotti needs some natural full-backs to provide some attacking width for the team, the current set-up of two inverted full-backs in Godfrey and Holgate is providing an essential defensive base for the team as they set their sights on a European place this season.
In other Everton news, see our exclusive interview with Kevin Campbell to see his views on a potential new contract for Digne.