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Ancelotti on Merseyside for Everton talks

By Matt Townsend

NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 10: Carlo Ancelotti SSC Napoli coach on his way to the dressing room after the UEFA Champions League group E match between SSC Napoli and KRC Genk at Stadio San Paolo on December 10, 2019 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 10: Carlo Ancelotti SSC Napoli coach on his way to the dressing room after the UEFA Champions League group E match between SSC Napoli and KRC Genk at Stadio San Paolo on December 10, 2019 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) /
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It seems that things are beginning to move at last, as reports this afternoon indicate that Carlo Ancelotti is on Merseyside to have talks with the Everton board about becoming the Blues manager.

Sky Sports claim that the Italian is now in Liverpool for talks with the powers that be at Everton to iron out the details of a potential deal to make him the new Toffee boss. Meanwhile the club has confirmed that Duncan Ferguson will be in charge for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City on Wednesday.

Not all Evertonians will be jumping for joy at this news and of course this story is still to be confirmed, although its does seem to be based on fairly solid ground.

So what should we think of this development?

I said before that I felt Ancelotti might be a good choice, especially given the other candidates being mentioned. He has the background and credentials, although as others have pointed out, he’s not ever managed a club in quite the kind of predicament that the Blues find themselves in!

The 60-year-old former AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Napoli coach has a terrific track record all around Europe. Although apart from Napoli, these were all successful, high-profile clubs so you could argue he didn’t necessarily have to do a great deal to deliver success.

He is used to going into clubs who are fighting for major honours. However, Ancelotti seems to be interested in the Goodison Park project though, at least if these reports are to be believed.

This is intriguing and indicates that perhaps the Italian believes that his time with those European super clubs is over as a new group of younger high-profile coaches and managers like Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp take jobs at these clubs.

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When I say all this I don’t mean to demean the Blues, but let’s be honest it’s been decades since Everton were regarded as one of the game’s elite.

So will he be the right man to revive the Toffees fortunes? This is a very difficult question to answer obviously. Ancelotti would offer qualities, but does he possess the drive and motivational skills to get the best of this group of players at Everton?

I think if he does decide to take the Blues job, he needs to find a way to tap into the kind of energy and work ethic that Ferguson seems to have inspired from players who looked utterly listless and disinterested in performing for the shirt just a few short weeks ago.

I think the best sort of scenario would be for Ancelotti to combine his experience, winning mentality and reputation for excellence, with Ferguson’s passion, commitment and emerging tactical nous in a one-two coaching set-up. That just might be the perfect combination..?

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