Carlo Ancelotti has reiterated his desire to remain with Everton beyond the end of his current contract in 2024 – but the Italian wants silverware before then.
Manager Ancelotti will celebrate his one-year Goodison Park anniversary this month.
And, to mark the occasion, he spoke to Everton’s matchday programme for an extensive interview which will feature in the copy for Saturday’s visit of Arsenal.
Ancelotti signed a four-and-a-half year deal when he was appointed 12 months ago.
The former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss has engineered an upswing in fortunes, with Everton fifth in the Premier League and only five points off the summit.
Prior to his first game against Burnley, on Boxing Day 2019, Everton were 15th and eight points adrift of the top six.
“Yes, of course [I want to stay past 2024], but it doesn’t mean we can’t be competitive before the end of this contract,” said Ancelotti.
“We can win trophies before then.
“We have to continue to improve.
“In one year, we improved on certain aspects, and we have the possibility and the target to improve in others.
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“When I went to Milan, in the first period, they wanted to restore the club’s history, like Everton now.
“This club wants to be competitive with the top teams in the Premier League.
“I don’t know if it will be this year but, for sure, in the future we will be there.
“The project is very ambitious, we are building the new stadium and improving the quality of the squad.
“There are all the ingredients to come back to the top.
“To fight, to be competitive in England and Europe.”
You can read Ancelotti’s interview in full by purchasing Everton’s matchday programme for this weekend’s meeting with Arsenal.
Copies are available online or at Everton One next to Goodison.
Supporters attending the game can buy an issue inside the stadium – where only contactless payment is accepted.
Ancelotti delves into a range of topics, including the pressure of management, the tools he employs to bring the best out of players and how one AC Milan star altered his way of thinking.
He explains the key for academy players to smoothly transition into a senior environment and outlines why Everton’s infrastructure enables him to perform at his peak.
On the consistent backing he’s received from the Club, and improvements made over the past year, Ancelotti said: “When I talked with the owner and board [prior to his appointment] they gave me the target they would like to reach in future.
“We had a squad with young players, a lot of talented players.
“I thought we could improve the squad by having some more experienced players.
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“I was really pleased the Club believed in my idea.
“With the Director of Football, Marcel Brands, we spent time together, we worked hard on the recruitment.
“The Club invested in everything we wanted.
“The average age [of the squad] is 25 or 26, it is a good age to try to do something special.
“The major improvement in the past year is our stability when we play.
“We are not up and down like last season.
“It is true, one period was not so good.
“But important players, like Lucas Digne, Richarlison, and James Rodriguez, missed games.
“In general, the stability of the team is better than last season.
“And I hope we can show that in this busy period.
“But it will be a long season.
“We have a clear target and are where we want to be, we could be better but everything is open in this moment.
“We are fighting for a European position and with a chance in the Carabao Cup.”
Everton's latest exclusive-filled matchday programme includes a feature interview with the brilliant Neville Southall, to many Evertonians' minds the greatest goalkeeper of them all and today an active and influential mental health campaigner.
Carlo Ancelotti and Seamus Coleman write their respective manager and captain's notes and there is fresh news from the Club's Women, Under-23 and Under-18 teams.
