Carlo is keeping focus on Europe
EVERTON boss Carlo Ancelotti has ruled his side out of this season’s Premier League title race.
The Merseysiders, who face Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup fourth round today, sit sixth in the table but have games in hand on all of the top three.
Some Everton fans have taken to social media to question why their club have not been spoken of as genuine contenders in the most open title race for years.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has said Everton cannot be discounted with Ancelotti at their helm, but the Italian does not agree.
“Honestly, we don’t have in our mind a title race,” he said. “We have in our mind, and I said at the start of the season, to fight for the European positions.
“Now we are in a good position and want to stay there.
“I think to talk about a title race in this moment is too much for us.”
Ancelotti did acknowledge that the Premier League was more exciting than ever this season.
“You see the table, at the top there are a lot of teams who are not used to staying there, like West Ham, Aston Villa, Everton also,” he said. “In this moment Chelsea and Arsenal are not there but they will be.”
Everton are bidding to reach the fifth round for the first time in five years.
They needed extra time to see off Rotherham in the third round and Ancelotti expects another tough test.
He added: “Sheffield Wednesday are a strong team, physical team and they want to compete with us. We have to be ready for this.”