Carlo Ancelotti says he is “really proud” of his Everton side after they twice hit back to secure a dramatic Premier League draw at Manchester United on Saturday.
Everton recovered from 2-0 at half-time to draw level within seven minutes of the restart.
The points appeared to be staying in Manchester, however, with the game entering the closing seconds of stoppage time and the home side back in front courtesy of Scott McTominay’s 70th-minute header.
But Dominic Calvert-Lewin coolly deposited a finish past David De Gea with the final kick of the game to bank a tremendous point.
Everton climbed one place to sixth in the Premier League standings.
They are three points outside the top four with games in hand on every team above them, bar leaders Manchester City.
“I am really proud, the spirit is really good in the team and this is the reason we got the draw," said Ancelotti.
“We showed at 3-2 down we did not want to lose.
“I think we started the game well, we were a little bit shy in the first half but did not deserve to be 2-0 down.
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“We scored two goals that were not expected.
“After that, the game was in control and, honestly, we didn’t deserve to lose.
“The draw was fair for us, the effort and spirit in the second half were really, really good.
“We tried to play in the first half but were a little bit shy, I don’t know why.
“We had opportunities on the counter-attack in the first half but were not clinical passing forward.
“If we think with only quality we can win games, we are wrong.
“We have to keep the spirit really high.”
Everton began their second-half fightback when Abdoulaye Doucoure tapped in after Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea could only push a 49th-minute Calvert-Lewin cross at the Frenchman’s feet.
Doucoure turned provider three minutes later, collecting a stray ball on the right and centring for James Rodriguez to control and drive into the corner for his fifth Premier League goal – and first away from Goodison Park.
United had led through goals from Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes before half-time.
McTominay restored the hosts’ advantage but Calvert-Lewin retained his composure to score his second goal this week and earn Everton the most dramatic of draws.
Ancelotti, whose side face Tottenham Hotspur in an FA Cup fifth round tie on Wednesday, employed a midfield diamond in a bid to contain United’s quality and power in the centre of the field.
And he was pleased with its effect.
“I had the feeling it worked [even before Everton’s first goal], they are really strong in midfield but we had possibilities to score,” said Ancelotti, who revealed he replaced James soon after the Colombian’s goal to avoid exacerbating a tight calf.
“The idea was to put one more player in midfield.
“Sometimes James moved outside and we lost the superiority in midfield but we had some opportunities at the beginning.
“James felt his calf was tight at the end of first half but he could play, although not all the game.
“He scored a fantastic goal, then we took him out to avoid problems.”
