SOME OF THE ANCELOTTI PRE MATCH NEWCASTLE P/C
Injury latest
No Allan and Delph are not available for selection. Gbamin is also out the others are okay after Leicester. Delph has started to train again, we hope that Allan and Gbamin will be able to train with us next week
Pickford selection
I’m not in the habit of giving the lineup during the press conference. Pickford didn’t play against Newcastle for normal rotation that I’m used to do because we have a lot of games. We play tomorrow and Wednesday.
We are going to have a lot of games, Jordan will be rotated like the others players. I don’t know if he’ll play tomorrow
Transfer latest
Unfortunately I cannot say anything new about this.
Thoughts on Newcastle game
I think it's an important game for both teams for different reasons. For us, it's really important because we have the possibility to go up the table & it can be a good motivation for the second part of the season
Champions League fight
To play Champions League is a step forwards. For our players, this has to be strong motivation. We are in a good position, we know we have to fight for this. It doesn't mean we will be able to reach but we will fight for this.
James Rodriquez praise
Of course James have to us more quality in front. He started really well, he had problems in the middle and now he is back again. He’s important like the others, we need the best from James, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Iwobi is doing really well
More on Newcastle
We have to pay attention to this game because every game in the Premier League is important and unpredictable. Newcastle are not in a good moment but it will be a difficult game as usual. I didn’t find easy games this season.
More on Pickford
He did a mistake and I think we can say this but it doesn’t change for me and his teammates the confidence we have. He’s made fantastic saves in the past and been solid. Pickford was better in the last period than before. There is no doubting his quality
Goalkeeping options
I think there is good competition there & the signing of Olsen helped him to be more motivated and also with less pressure
Bruce sympathy
I have a lot of sympathy for Steve as a man. I like him as a man, his attitude. He is a good manager, he’s under pressure but who is not under pressure. We are under pressure all of the time, no news for this.
Carlo on Sigurdsson
I think it is a great achievement to be able to reach 300 games, it’s fantastic he’s doing really well. I’m really pleased with him, he’s a fantastic player, fantastic professional and can play in different positions, He’s another captain in this squad for his attitude
Defensive record
We are more focused defensively. We want to attack more but sometimes to defend when you have to defend is important. You have to read the situation
Carlo on Position in Table
Honestly I am quite happy for the position of the table. I think it could be better, we lost some points we didn’t have to lose. Happy but I think we can improve. There is a lot of completion and unpredictable games. Every game is difficult
On consistency
We have more consistency now defensively and it’s true most of the game we defended instead of attack. We want to attack more but to be able to defend well is important. One of the qualities of a team is to read the situations.
Carlo on Rodriguez
I think it’s just a coincidence that he’s done better at Goodison Park. The fact we are playing without fans means it is a coincidence. The relationship with him is normal like the others. I don’t have a different relationship.
Attackers being helped more
Of course when we have the defensive line deep, James, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison has difficulty showing their quality, they are not defenders. We have to give them more opportunity to have the ball and use their quality
Leicester lessons
The lesson I learnt is that we can compete with everyone in the Premier League. I don’t know if we can win every game but we can compete with everyone. Leicester are one of the most teams and we took four points off them
Carlo on set Piece's
We score a lot of goals from set-pieces because we have fantastic headers, Yerry Mina, Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane and good delivery, James and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
