Ancelotti backs under-pressure keeper Pickford
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti believes goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has the required personality to shrug off the recent criticism of his performances.
Pickford’s mistake, letting Christian Benteke’s equaliser slip under him, in the 3- 1 win over Crystal Palace put the focus back on his individual form after a mixed last 18 months.
The England No. 1 was criticised by former player turned pundit Gary Neville in September for laughing when 3- 1 down to Manchester City, while plenty have been quick to scrutinise Pickford over other perceived failings.
However, the 25-year-old has received the backing of his manager ahead of today’s game at Arsenal as Everton try to continue their push for a European place.
“To be England No.1 is a responsibility I think he deserves,” Ancelotti said in a pre- match press conference. “In my opinion he is the best English goalkeeper.
“I’m not so afraid about the critics. In the game against Palace he did a mistake and he did a fantastic save. This is the job of the goalkeeper.
“Sometimes you can have a mistake, but after that you need to have the personality to move on quickly, and he did. Nobody is perfect so we have to accept the mistake of the goalkeeper and also we have to accept that Jordan for us is very important.”
Mikel Arteta has praised his Arsenal squad for responding to his new philosophy – but insists he still needs time to get the Gunners playing his way.
While he has only lost one of his 11 games in charge since his appointment on December 20, Arteta has seen his side draw five of those fixtures.
That sort of form saw them sitting 10th in the Premier League table heading into the weekend action.
Victories ov e r Ne w c a s t l e and Olympiacos would be topped off nicely with three more points against a side Arteta represented as a player between 2005 and 2011.
“The players – the passion and energy they are showing every day and the same with the staff and everybody who works here,” he said.
“We have a long way to go in this process, to develop a lot of things that I want to implement. We need time.”