Ancelotti hesitant to talk up Everton top four opportunity
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti is hesitant to talk up the club’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League this season just yet.
The Toffees beat Southampton at Goodison Park on Monday night, marking back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since Boxing Day, putting them within touching distance of the top four.
Though Everton currently sit seventh in the Premier League, they are just two points behind West Ham in fourth, with the Blues also possessing a game in hand.
The Blues are set to face West Brom at the Hawthorns on Thursday, and Ancelotti knows that should the club win they’ll move into the top four.
However the Italian coach believes that such an event would signal the club’s progress, more so than suggest Everton can keep that spot until the end of the season.
Speaking after Everton’s win over Southampton (via The Liverpool Echo), Ancelotti said: “I think we have a great opportunity [to go into the top four] but I don’t know for how long.
“One, two or three days. But we would like to touch the position and we will put in the effort in the next game on Thursday to be there. It is really possible to be there in the next game, even if for just one or two games, it doesn’t matter.”
“I think it is a great opportunity to already be in the top four. There will be a big fight until the end of the season, until the last game.
“We will be pleased if we can fight for this position.”
Correct mentality
Ancelotti is right not to get carried away just yet because we all know Everton have more than enough ability to ruin everything all on their own.
The Blues have done well over the past two games to come away with six points, but they’ll need to remain consistent going forward if they want the Champions League to go from fantasy to reality.
Patience and perseverance is key now, and while we’re hopeful that Ancelotti can pull off a miracle, we won’t hold our breath just yet.
Breaking into the top four is a very tough task that would mark a remarkable achievement for Ancelotti.
Like him, we’re happy to dream it, but we won’t be shouting from the rooftops just yet.
In other Everton news, Ancelotti has explained that Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri has no bearing on team selection.