2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

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ANCELOTTI





JAMES DEFINITELY OUT, WHAT INJURY?

Not definitely out. Fortunately I think his recovery was really good and he trained today, just a partial training session. Hopefully he will train on Saturday and we will see if he is in condition to play on Sunday. He’s really better now and we have confidence that maybe he can play.

He had a big hematoma, he was not able to train until today. I hope tomorrow will be better. Today was quite good, but he had only partial training.

KENNY FIT?

Not yet. He has to train more, so we are without Seamus [Coleman], Jonjoe and Richarlison.

WIJNALDUM’S COMMENT THAT EVERTON WENT TOO FAR IN THE DERBY

In my opinion it was a challenge, a mistimed tackle but Pickford didn’t want to hurt Van Dijk. Everyone is really sorry for the injury, he is a fantastic player. Everyone hopes for a good recovery.

PICKFORD IN THE RIGHT STATE OF MIND, CONSIDERED TAKING HIM OUT?

No, I don’t consider to take him out. He has trained well, he is focused on the game. I think he’s going to play on Sunday.

STILL UNBEATEN, WHAT TO EXPECT FROM S’TON.

It will be a tough game, a difficult team, they are really well organised. We played against them here in July, we had a lot of difficulties in that game. It’s really tough, they played really well against Chelsea. It is a team that to win, you have to be at 100 per cent. I would like to be at 100 per cent because our target is to try and win.

TOP FOUR RACE?

The start was good, now there is a consistency to show every game. I think we showed a good spirit against one of the best teams, against Liverpool, and we would like to show the same from now on. That’s how you judge the consistency of the team. Every game you have to show the same spirit and show improvement sometimes.

MOTTO FOR THE TEAM?

Everyone here tries to follow the spirit of this club – this spirit is really well explained in that phrase [club motto]. It is a good motivation for us.

CALVERT-LEWIN, HOW CRUCIAL HAS HE BEEN?

I was joking with him today, I asked what is the most important goal he has scored. He was thinking what is the most important and I said “don’t think, the most important goal is the next one!” The past is past, he is doing really well. For the fact he has done really well, everyone expects a little bit more – that has to be his motivation. He has to be ready to show a little but more.

SOUTHAMPTON’S MAIN THREATS?

Southampton are a team with a really clear identity, really clear with how they play without the ball, they are really compact. We have to be smart, to be clever with the ball because I think if we are clever with the ball we could have a chance to win the game.

INJURY UPDATES

James was out for five days. He tried to do some partial training today, it was good. We are going to see tomorrow how he has recovered.

HAS PICKFORD APOLOGISED TO VVD?

I know he talked after the game to Jordan Henderson, and I know that he tried to be in contact with Van Dijk but I don’t know if he talked to him.

HOW CAN YOU COPE WITHOUT COLEMAN, RICHARLISON, POSSIBLY JAMES?

Honestly, the players in training showed a good motivation. They know, the players that didn’t play a lot now have a possibility to be important to this team for this game. There was a lot of competition to replace the players that are out. After that I have to take a decision. It is a difficult decision because everyone has trained really well.

GODFREY DEBUT?

He played a good game, not in his usual position. After the first 15 minutes when he had difficulties the second half was really better. We have to consider that he played against one of the best wingers in the world. It was not an easy game for him, but he was good. We tried him this week, some exercise as a right-back. He has all the qualities to play as a right-back, I have no doubt for this. He’s going to play right-back [on Sunday].

HOW HAVE EVERTON IMPROVED AWAY FROM HOME?

In general, away games are easier right now because you don’t have the crowd, so it’s a little bit easier than in the past. Apart from this, this team at the moment has more ambition, more motivation, so it’s this ambition and motivation that gave us the wins away.

MICHEAL KEANE – 100 PL APPS WITH EVERTON IF HE PLAYS ON SUNDAY. CONSISTENT PERFORMER?

He’s doing really well. He has scored goals, he’s helped us to score goals. I have to say that he has played a lot of games really well, but there was not a lot of competition because we have Mason Holgate and Jared Brainthwaite out, so Micheal and Yerry Mina were more comfortable, but he has done fantastic performances.

WHERE WAS THE JAMES INJURY?

I cannot tell you where, but he had a big hematoma. If he is comfortable in training on Saturday, he is going to play. If the hematoma goes down, he can play.

MINA PERFORMANCE V LIVERPOOL?

He played a good performance. He made a little mistake that was punished by Salah. In general he is doing well, I am pleased with his performances.
 


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