Carlo Ancelotti hopes the return of Allan can help Everton restore ‘balance’ between defence and attack. The Blues boss admitted in the wake of the 3-3 draw with Manchester United that his side had not been playing “attacking football” in recent months and, instead, had been “focused more on defending”. After making a blistering start to the season, where a free-scoring Everton were top of the table into November, the Blues have relied on being organised and hard to beat to keep their European hopes on track.
Ancelotti believes the onus of the home team to have more of the ball has suited his players when on the road but he believes that the return of Allan – who missed the losses to West Ham and Newcastle – will help Everton. The Brazilian midfielder is hoping to be fit to face Fulham on Sunday night at Goodison.
Carlo Ancelotti said: “Away we are more comfortable because I think we are more comfortable when we have to defend. “We have good results at home against Chelsea and Arsenal because most of the time we defended. When we tried to attack more we lost a bit of balance, we conceded easy defeats. The three defeats were three draws, in these games we lost three points, not nine. We still don’t have the balance when we want to attack more.”
Carlo Ancelotti added: “The balance, you have to work on this with all the team. It doesn’t matter the quality of the players we want to put in front. Sometimes more quality players you put in front and less quality you have. We have to manage this. That was the reason. It is true the absence of the Allan was important but it is also true Tom Davies is doing really well.”
Everton will be without Josh King for the FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night because he is cup tied, having played twice in the competition earlier this season for Bournemouth. Ancelotti was due to take a decision on the fitness of Jordan Pickford and James Rodriguez after training this afternoon.
