Carlo excited by Everton top six challenge
Carlo Ancelotti admits it is a challenge to make Everton competitive with the Premier League’s “Big Six” but it will be a “fantastic success” if he can achieve it.
The Toffees’ remote hopes of qualifying for Europe, let alone the Champions League, this season took a dive following Thursday’s home draw with Southampton.
Historically, their head-to-head record with Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham is woeful and, having been overtaken in the table by the likes of today’s opponents Wolves, Sheffield United and even Burnley, the challenge of revitalising the club’s fortunes has become tougher.
Asked if it was one of his most difficult jobs in management, the Italian said: “Most difficult? Every year a manager has difficulties. You can have more difficulties than other years, but difficulties and problems are an important part of your job.
“I feel it is a challenge. It is an exciting challenge because the project here is really interesting and I am involved in this project 100%.
“I say it is an exciting challenge because if I am able to bring Everton to fight to compete in the top positions in the Premier League it will be a fantastic success for me.”
The immediate challenge for Ancelotti is to get his side back on track after one point from their last two matches left them meandering in mid-table.
Wolves, who themselves have had a wobble with back-to-back defeats, present a significant test and the Everton manager does not think the schedule has helped his side.
“The fact they had one more day to rest is important,” he added. “We don’t have enough time to recover, so I have to put in fresh players.
“Probably we are not physically 100% so we have to play an intelligent game.
“Defensively we have to do better compared with the first half against Southampton. We have to be intelligent to manage the situation of the game.
“It will be tough. Wolves are fighting for Europe, so I expect a really tough game.
“We don’t have a lot of chance to stay in the fight for European qualification, but we want to keep fighting and keep going until the end of the season.”