Carlo Ancelotti is a manager who needs no presentations as his past achievements in European football speak for himself. Born in Reggiolo (Italy) in 1959, Ancelotti is one of only three managers to have won the UEFA Champions League three times (twice with Milan and once with Real Madrid), and one of only two to have managed teams in four finals. Ancelotti is also one of seven people to have won the European Cup or Champions League as both a player and a manager. He is regarded as one of the best and most successful managers of all time. Everton have not finished in the top four since 2005, which is the only time they had done it since 1988. When Ancelotti took over Everton, the club was languishing at 15th in the Premier League, four points above the relegation zone.
Given above backdrop, it is interesting to get insight on why Carlo Ancelloti decided to join Everton and what changes has he brought to the club.
Carlo Ancelloti said “The ambition of the club, the history that this club has. The tradition. The atmosphere of the supporters… Also the fact this club wants to improve; we want to be a better team and we want to compete These were the reasons I decided to come here. The attraction is the tradition and history of the club. It is true that I manage a top team when I was at PSG; the project was really good there and that attracted me so the ambition of the club. I think that is the same here. It is not true that I only manage top teams – sometimes in Italy I mange championship teams. I like teams that have ambition and have a clear idea of how to reach success. I went to the training ground yesterday – it is a fantastic training ground and the fact the club want to build a new stadium shows ambition.”
Overall, at this stage, it’s unclear whether Ancelotti would prove a good move for the Blues. Whilst he boasts and unrivalled coaching CV, question marks remain whether he could oversee a rebuild and forge a legacy at Goodison Park at this stage in his career. Everton player Tom Davies has shared following insight about the manager.
Tom Davies said “The way he sets up the team is the biggest change so far. It makes it easy to understand, I know what I need to do and where I have to go. His idea about the game is very clear. He is big on having the ball and pressing high. It lets you go and press people without worrying what’s behind you and you have options on the ball.”
Tom Davies played 33 league matches under Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce in 2017-18, but only 16 last season. When Davies’s form dropped away slightly – at the age of 19 – a section of Everton fans criticised him and concluded that he was below the level required. He became one of the emblems of the club’s stagnation. Under Carlo Ancelloti, Tom Davies has got a career restart and hopes to do well for both club and country.
