The head coach was speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Goodison Park
Team news?
The same we were in midweek, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi we know are out for around a couple of weeks. Christian Pulisic had a tiny bit of awareness off the back of the Leeds game game on one of his hamstrings but he’s training normally, so we should be as we were.
Ancelotti, what have you taken from him?
I would never try to take something off someone as such, you can be influenced by people and I was heavily influenced by him as a player and as a man, at the time. He’s right at the top in terms of the managers I’ve worked with, for everything about him. He’s had huge success in his career, at various clubs, and one-to-one I found him a great coach, a great man, and as I say he influenced me. And I very much look forward at all times to seeing him and speaking to him.
Pulisic’s injuries seem relentless?
Christian is a work in progress. I don’t want to call this an injury that he had in midweek. If the game had been a different type of game then maybe I would have used him. We know his abilities and that’s very clear. He showed them when he came on against Leeds in midweek. I just have to find the best way of getting it out of him consistently.
Is this another false dawn for Everton?
That’s the Premier League, the nature of it. They started very well. They have quality players, they have a fantastic manager – one of the best in the world – and the Premier League is unforgiving. They have had a few injuries but we all have our own moments and patches where results are challenging. But it doesn’t change my thoughts about how to approach playing Everton. They are a very, very good side. They have great individuals within collective that can win games. I’m very focused on their strengths and the dangers we face going there. We found that out last year. I know it was a different time, different manager although he is still on the staff. But it was a very tough match for us and that should still be on our minds.
