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Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed Liverpool’s criticism of Jordan Pickford, insisting that the challenge that Virgil van Dijk injured in the Merseyside derby was more inappropriate than malicious.
The Everton manager, who will be without James Rodriguez at Southampton on Sunday due to a Van Dijk foul at Goodison Park, has come to the goalkeeper’s defense after a week of harsh criticism for the tackle he left with the Liverpool defender. ACL damage.
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum stepped up his condemnation of Pickford on Tuesday when he accused the England international of being “completely stupid” and Everton of going too far in derbies. Jürgen Klopp said he shared his players’ opinion on the incident.
However, Ancelotti insists the attacks on Pickford have gone too far (Merseyside police are investigating threats against the goalkeeper and Richarlison on social media) and Liverpool should accept that injuries are an unfortunate part of the game.
“To be clear, we are very sorry for Virgil van Dijk’s injury,” he said. “We all hope we can recover soon and well. There was this contact with Jordan Pickford: it was an inappropriate contact. But the fact that the Premier League is so fast, it’s not that hard to get a little bit later. You can pass.
“Jordan arrived a little later but his intention was to try to reach the ball. It wasn’t to hurt Virgil van Dijk. And after that the reaction is too much. To say that it was premeditated, and this and that, in my opinion, is too much. And Virgil van Dijk knows it. It’s soccer. Unfortunately, in soccer you can injure yourself. Jordan is really sad, really disappointed [that van Dijk is injured] But saying it was premeditated, saying it was stupid, it’s not fair. “
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Rodríguez played the full game against Liverpool despite being injured in the 40th minute by Van Dijk’s challenge. Ancelotti said: “He had an untimely tackle with Virgil van Dijk at the start of the game and I think he will not be available for the game against Southampton.”
Séamus Coleman is expected to be out of the game for two to three weeks due to a hamstring problem suffered in the derby, but Jonjo Kenny has returned to training after injury and is in line to replace the captain at St Mary’s Stadium.
