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(Reuters) – Everton assistant coach Duncan Ferguson praised the “magic” of Carlo Ancelotti, who has led the Premier League club to the top of the standings at the start of his first full season in charge.
Everton have been transformed with Italian Ancelotti, whose cunning transfers during the closed season, including the capture of James Rodriguez, and his tactical talents have helped them win their first four league games of the 2020-21 campaign.
Ferguson was Everton’s interim manager for a brief period before Ancelotti’s arrival in December. The Scotsman said he was immediately impressed by the veteran manager.
“The first thing I noticed when he came in was that nothing ever changed. A new, younger manager could have decided to do things (differently) right away,” Ferguson told the Daily Mail in an interview on Friday.
“They could have forced their philosophy – I hate that word – or style of play on the team. Some coaches would just come in and leave … ‘Change this. Change that. Change everything.” He never did, I thought it was a class.
“I learned a lot from that. He’s a laid-back guy but trust me, he bites into it. Carlo has worked his magic. We all respect him for what he’s done in the game. But he works hard and is on the grass every day.”
Everton are looking to win their first five league games for the first time since 1938, but on Saturday they will face an uphill battle against local rivals and champions Liverpool.
The Merseyside club have not beaten Liverpool in their last 22 matches and Saturday marks 10 years since their last win over them.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Edited by William Mallard)
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