"It seemed the players were focused but not tonight [Saturday], they were not focused and, maybe, I need to push more on that aspect to have the players more ready when the game starts"
A positive that he's said that but also concerning that he isn't doing it already. He has to be on a club like ours players 24/7 - tough love and sand dunes are required none of this best mates and smiles in training nonsense.
I can understand why he doesn't call some of them out publicly as that would lead to a poisonous dressing room but even a man as mild mannered as Ancelotti must surely be tempted in that direction soon.
I don't how how you confront poor attitude other than by simply dropping the player concerned but I've felt for a long-time that we need something a bit more impactful than that.
I've thought for ages that this squad needs a big kick up the proverbials collectively - being nice won't get Ancelotti anywhere at Everton. There is too much of this "family club" thing, a part of that means sticking together which is fine but not if bad attitude isn't confronted.
I'd take the pain in the short-term if it meant some of the midfield were launched from a rocket never to show up here again - but he can't do that either.
Alex Ferguson could do that in the 80s when he made clear that the likes of Paul McGrath wasn't going to fit in with his requirements.
Mourinho would lose all his hair at Everton but not before calling out shocking levels of attitude and performance first. I'm not saying thats the way but it does show how difficult it is in the modern era.
If things go on as they are though Ancelotti will either have to confront it or risk losing his job - these players will have no issue throwing him under the bus.