Carlo Ancelotti is the first to admit that he did not expect his Everton team to be involved in a title race when the Premier League kicked off in September.
And although the Toffees go into Monday night’s match against Manchester City in second place, the Italian does not expect one of the season’s success stories to have a happy ending. In title terms, at least.
The last time Everton won four consecutive games twice in a top-flight season was in 1986-87, the season the club last won the league.
Their 1-0 win at Bramall Lane against a hapless Sheffield United on Boxing Day allowed them to match a team that is still rightly revered on Merseyside.
Ancelotti, though, believes his emerging side still have a long way to go before they can compete on equal terms with the likes of Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who go into the Goodison Park clash on a six-match unbeaten run.
His answer as to whether Everton can win the Premier League title is a frank one. “I think, realistically, no,” Ancelotti says. “We are really pleased to be there but our target didn’t change.
“There is a lot of competition in the Premier League, a lot of fantastic teams. We are happy to be second now but our target is to reach the European positions, to play in Europe next season. It didn’t change.”
A victory over City, who have won the Premier League four times in the past decade, would send out a clear message to the contrary. But Ancelotti would still not get carried away.
“It will be the same,” he says. “We have to be honest with ourselves. We are not of the same level as the teams [competing].
“We would like to be as soon as possible at the same level. We are working for this but if you ask me today, I think we have to be honest.”
As Ancelotti enters his second year at Goodison he can look back on 12 months of solid progress.
Everton finished last season in 12th, comfortably ahead of the relegation places but also a fair way off a European slot.
In contrast, given their start to the current campaign, Everton fans would be disappointed if they were not booking a European tour by the time the summer rolls around – Covid-19 permitting, of course.
It’s a healthy situation, with Ancelotti bringing a welcome sense of calm to a club that has been notable for underachieving for longer than most Goodison regulars would care to remember.
“I have to say that after one year we progressed really well because the team has, I think, a really good spirit,” he said. “The players are motivated, we had some good signings. The progress was really good and we would like to prove that next season.”
Everton are expected to be unchanged against City tonight for a fixture which last brought them a victory in January 2017. They will hope their form remains similarly unaltered.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3ry2Xda
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