Claudio Ranieri tips James & Ancelotti to achieve ‘incredible things’ together at Everton
Claudio Ranieri believes Carlo Ancelotti and James Rodriguez can achieve great things together at Everton.
The ex-Leicester manager was full of praise for James, while speaking to evertonfc.com.
Ranieri and James spent one season together at Monaco in 2013. The Italian signed him as a 21-year-old from FC Porto and he contributed to 24 goals that season.
James has three goals and three assists in 11 Premier League starts for the Toffees; Ranieri thinks his strong connection with Ancelotti will pay dividends.
He said: “He’s thrown himself into this new adventure at Everton with so much enthusiasm and is really expressing himself on the pitch.
“He’s an international footballer who’s represented some of the biggest clubs in Europe, so he is excellent at adapting
“He has a strong connection with Carlo, who got the best out of him at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, and it is going brilliantly for them this season.
“It is hard to make predictions but this duo has achieved incredible things in the past and there’s no reason to think they can’t do so again with the Toffees.”
James can push Everton on to new heights
The majority of football fans were shocked at the signing of James in the summer by Everton, the player of the tournament at the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
James has played in Portugal, France, Spain, and Germany before moving to the Premier League, so it was no surprise to see him adapt so quickly.
The Columbian has spent time with Ancelotti at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich prior to his time on Merseyside, and as Ranieri said their relationship is very strong.
Limited to just 14 appearances in the Spanish capital last season it was no surprise to see him move.
Those six-goal involvements came in the opening five games of the season, which saw him make a blistering start to his time at Goodison Park.
The Toffees are currently 6th in the PL table after 17 games so far, despite James being in and out of the side with injuries.
With a consistent run of matches, it’s exactly his level of quality that will push into Everton the European places this season.
In other Everton news, youngster Ellis Simms has joined Blackpool on loan.