Ancelotti Plotting Big 'Jump Forward' Next Term

Carlo Ancelotti is targeting spirited displays high on attacking quality in Everton’s final two games of 2019/20 – before preparing to lead his team on a "jump forward" next season.

Everton finish their campaign with a visit to Sheffield United on Monday followed by next Sunday’s Goodison Park meeting with Bournemouth.

The turnaround between seasons will be extraordinarily tight and manager Ancelotti is beginning to shape his thoughts ahead of his first full campaign in charge.

The Italian, who hinted at a call for striker Moise Kean at Bramall Lane in two days, admitted high on his agenda for next term would be an improvement in performances and results away from Goodison.

Everton have won four of 18 games on the road this season – three of those since Ancelotti was appointed in December.

If they’re going to claim victory number five outside L4, Everton will have to overcome a Blades team in rude health and with victories over three of the Premier League’s top seven in its past three home games.

“We are going to play a team doing really well in this period, they beat Tottenham, Chelsea and Wolves at home,” said Ancelotti.

“They play with intensity and are really aggressive.

“We want to show our best qualities.

“[We want] fighting spirit and to improve our attacking play, which in the past period wasn’t so good.


“Sheffield United… are not only a physical team, they have a clear idea in attack and defence.

“It is clear they have trained to play together.

“What we want [from our final two games] is points, it will be important to show good football and play with fighting spirit, nothing more.

“Everyone in the Club has a clear idea how to improve the squad.

“We don’t have to consider how the big is the jump [to compete at the league’s top end next season].

“We have to jump, we have to move forward, we have to improve.

“We have to be better next season.”

Ancelotti confessed planning for 2020/21 would start as soon as this term reaches its conclusion, with an onus on “finding the right solution” to improve Everton’s squad.

Asked in his pre-match media briefing, in the context of the overlapping centre-halves employed by Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, about creating a playing identity for Everton, Ancelotti insisted his “best scenario” would be to have a side capable of “showing different identities in the same game”.


Regardless of the look and shape of his squad next season, however, Ancelotti insisted compatriot Kean would feature in his plans.

The 20-year-old forward joined from Juventus 12 months ago and 23 of his 28 Premier League appearances have come from the bench.

“It is a possibility he can start [against Sheffield United] but the idea we have on him doesn’t change,” explained Ancelotti.

“He will be our player next season.

“He has learned about the environment we have here in this club and developed his relationship with his teammates.

“It takes time.

“He is really young, a player with potential and a lot of quality.

“It is true he didn’t play a lot but he had really strong competition up front.

“Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison did really well.

“In the last two games he will have more opportunity but we have to plan for next season [with a view] to him having more opportunities to play.”


Everton will again play in an empty stadium when they cross the Pennines in search of a second post-lockdown away success following victory at Norwich City last month.

The UK Government announced on Friday plans to pilot sporting events with limited numbers of spectators from 1 August.

And, in common with everyone in the game, Ancelotti hopes these baby steps are soon converted into full stadiums, if such a move meets prevailing safety protocols.

“It will be fantastic news [if fans are allowed back in football grounds],” said Ancelotti.

“I hope the crowd will be with us next season.

“Football without supporters is not football we want to see.”

Ancelotti added: “We didn’t do as well away as at home this season.

“This is an area where we have to improve next season.

“To have more confidence when we play away.

“We didn’t do enough away, we won some games but others weren’t good enough.

“We want to finish well, then be focused to try to improve the squad for next season.

“The Board is going to support me and the team. We have the same idea that the team has to improve.”