[ad_1]
They danced in the dressing room, rejoicing in their role as ghostbusters, while Carlo Ancelotti was bombarded with questions about the story.
Everton had turned the city blue with their most authoritative display at Anfield in a generation, one that ended a 22-year wait for victory at this stadium, and how the players were going to enjoy it.
The vertigo would be reflected by the followers, who had waited so patiently for this moment. Ancelotti, understandably, was beaming with satisfaction. However, there was also a part of him that was a bit taken aback by the reaction, indicative of someone who has traveled extensively, has a lot of experience and has seen it all.
“We are wrong if we think we achieved something,” Ancelotti said. “I think it is a good moment for us, but it is only three points.
“Our goal is not to beat Liverpool. Our goal is to reach the European positions and play European football next season. This is the achievement. ‘
But did he realize that he had become a hero? “I’m not a hero,” he said with a smile. “All the heroes have sadly died.”
Here is an important lesson, taught by one of the great teachers of soccer. With each year that has passed since Kevin Campbell scored the club’s last winning goal at Anfield in September 1999, it has been felt that certain elements around Everton were more concerned with Liverpool than self-centered.
To some, it will appear that Richarlison’s push and Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty have led to a summit climb. However, it could be seen from Ancelotti’s face that such an idea did not sit easily. This was ultimately three points on a Saturday night in mid-February.
Do you think Ancelotti will remember this season fondly if this turns out to be his climax? No possibility. That’s why his words held so much meaning, a reminder for everyone to put things in perspective and an encouragement about what they could accomplish.
What a fantastic opportunity he faces against Everton. The last time they visited Anfield in the Premier League, in December 2019, they were humiliated 5-2. The evening was marked by rancor from the visiting winger and fights on the field. The next day, coach Marco Silva was fired.
The reason that Everton’s majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, persecuted Ancelotti so aggressively was to transform the mindset, shake off the inertia and make them believe that they could go to matches of this nature as equals. Here was compelling evidence of the extent of Italian influence.
Everton started off superbly, landing the first punch when Richarlison swiftly passed awkward Ozan Kabak and gave him a super pass from James Rodriguez, then defended flawlessly, frequently sending Liverpool down dead ends. When the hosts saw the goal, they found Jordan Pickford flawless.
This was a team that had been well trained, tactically astute, and had the confidence to perform whatever was asked of it. They hadn’t played so maturely here since Joe Royle plotted a 2-1 win in November 1995.
Michael Keane, one of the many featured artists in blue, explained: ‘A lot of us have experience playing against Liverpool, so in the pre-match meeting the manager said:’ What have you learned from the past and how do we want to do it? get close to this?
‘We knew what to expect from Liverpool. It’s a great team, but if you defend well, keep track of the runners, and work really hard, you can frustrate them. Obviously this season there is room to hit them on the counterattack and we take advantage of it. I’m glad it worked out very well for us.
It definitely shows progress. We have made great strides, that is evident. The players we have brought, the mentality, the style of play, the football we are playing.
“We want to finish above Liverpool, and if we do, that will mean we are in a good position. We will do our best to make sure that happens. ‘
With all due respect to Keane, they would do well to forget about Liverpool now. Jurgen Klopp’s team appears as a ship with holes in its hull. They face more difficult days before the end of May. Everton don’t need to worry about them. Everton need to build on the momentum.
In their next four games, they face Southampton and Burnley at home and West Brom and Chelsea away. This squad has the absolute potential to take 12 points from that sequence and if they want to finish in the top four, that has to be the goal.
Some will continue to view Everton with skepticism. Nine of the outfield players who started against Liverpool started six days earlier against Fulham and barely got a glove. But in soccer, a game can be the catalyst for something transformative.
“This is a good moment for us but, like I said, it’s only three points,” Ancelotti reiterated.
Beating Liverpool has lifted a curse, but it must not represent everything and end everything. Ancelotti, you can be sure, will not allow that to be the case.
It’s time for everyone else in the club to follow suit. It’s time to look at the big picture and create an exciting new era.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
[ad_2]
