Fabian Delph says Everton will head into Wednesday’s New Year’s Day showdown with former club Manchester City with “momentum and confidence” after back-to-back Premier League victories.
The Blues boast a 100-per-cent record under new manager Carlo Ancelotti after following up a 1-0 home victory over Burnley in the Italian’s first game in charge with an impressive 2-1 success at Newcastle United on Saturday.
The clash with City will represent Delph’s first game at Etihad Stadium since leaving Pep Guardiola’s team to join Everton last summer.
The 30-year-old midfielder spent four seasons at City, where he won two Premier League titles and also lifted the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Delph insists his focus will be on helping Everton sustain their fine recent form, with the Blues aiming to extend their unbeaten run in the top-flight to six matches.
“We’ve got some momentum now,” he told evertontv.
“I spent four great years at City – really successful years – and I formed some good relationships. It will be nice to go back to the Etihad.
“But if we’re organised, compact and all heading in the same direction, I think we’ve got the chance to win most games we play in.
“There’s a lot of confidence. When a new manager comes in, it freshens things up. We’ve got a new way of playing.
“We’re very organised, we know what to do without the ball and with the ball. We seem to be building very well from the back.
"It’s a young team and everybody sticks together. We need that spirit in every game.”
Delph has featured in both of Everton’s matches since Ancelotti’s appointment, playing the full game as the Blues beat Burnley at Goodison Park before being introduced as a 61st-minute substitute in the win at Newcastle.
Delph’s incisive, precise passing helped Everton dictate the tempo of the Boxing Day clash with Burnley, with the Blues dominant for extended periods of the match.
The England international boasted an impressive passing accuracy of 87 per cent during the game. He was ambitious in possession, too, with his 35 passes in the opposition half the highest of any player on the pitch.
He was then introduced into a feverish St James’ Park atmosphere on Saturday, with the home fans vociferously roaring their team forward having struck an equaliser four minutes prior to Delph entering the fray.
Everton successfully weathered the storm and promptly hit the front again through Dominic Calvert-Lewin's second goal of the match.
Delph’s combination of steel, composure and authority in the middle of the park then came to the fore as the Toffees successfully saw out the game to move up to 10th in the Premier League.
Delph revealed his belief Everton boast the collective quality to further progress and climb the table.
“The last two games have been good, and I still feel we’ve got loads more to improve on,” he added.
“I feel we can get better in every area of the pitch, especially keeping the ball a bit more, when we can take the sting out of the game.
“There’s lots to work on and there’s definitely a lot of talent within the group. Hopefully we can keep building from these results.”
Calvert-Lewin’s double at Newcastle means the striker has now hit five goals in his past five Premier League matches.
Delph says his fellow Yorkshireman is getting his just rewards after producing a series of powerful, mature and unselfish centre-forward displays.
“His work ethic for the team is pretty amazing,” he added.
“I’ve spoke to him a lot throughout the season, especially when I first signed and told him what I think of him.
“He seems to be coming on leaps and bounds.
“He’s a team player and getting his results – scoring his goals. Long may that continue.”
