Carlo Ancelotti Everton
Carlo Ancelotti insists the key to getting the best out of James Rodriguez is ensuring Everton’s playmaker has ample motivation. Ancelotti is working with the Colombian for a third time, at a third club, following the 29-year-old’s switch from Real Madrid earlier this month.
James Rodriguez built on his impressive club debut at Spurs by producing a man-of-the-match display in the 5-2 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, where he scored once and laid on an assist for another. Ancelotti has been able to bring the best out of the former World Cup golden boot winner, at club level, more consistently than any other coach but he insists there is no great secret to unlocking Rodriguez’s talent.
Carlo Ancelotti said “Listen James is not old, he is still a young player, he is only 29-years-old. Really, I don’t know [why I keep getting the best out of him], really I don’t know. First, to play for Real Madrid is not easy because there is a lot of competition there and, as a manager, it is not easy to choose the line-up for everyone. For me, it was difficult [to choose the line-up] on Saturday. So first, you have to give the player the opportunity to play. It is more difficult for him to play for Real Madrid and easier for him to play for Everton. Apart from this, the key point is the motivation that the player has to have when he goes on the pitch. This is the key point. I am not worried about this because the team is showing quality, it is showing it can be competitive in the future. I am not worried about the expectation . I am really happy today because the last six months were not easy, they were really difficult for everyone at Everton – players, club, supporters – but now, I think, we have to be happy with how we started the season. Full stop. The season is long, this is only the start, we are going to have a lot more tests in the future, but we have to be happy until Wednesday.”
Ancelotti is refusing to get carried away with Everton’s 100% start to the season but insists the club should not shy away from enjoying the moment – after the past six months that were “not easy”. And the Blues boss is not concerned about having to manage expectations. With the signing of Colombian superstar James Rodriguez, Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton are looking to make waves in the Premier League this season.
