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Doucoure Braced For Fresh Everton Midfield Competition

Abdoulaye Doucoure is steeling himself to fend off renewed competition for his Everton midfield position next season.

Frenchman Doucoure has won rave reviews from Carlo Ancelotti for a series of dynamic performances following a transfer from Watford last summer.

Everton extensively scouted the 28-year-old Doucoure, and Ancelotti admitted this month the player’s influence was a “great surprise”.

The Blues visit Manchester City on Sunday needing a positive result to stand any chance of European qualification and recent history suggests their prospects will be enhanced by the presence of Doucoure.

The player, poised to start his fourth successive match following a 10-week injury layoff, has won 15 and drawn four of the 28 Premier League games he’s started for the Club.

Everton’s 2020/21 top-flight win percentage of 46 climbs to 54 in games with Doucoure in the team.

“I heard that about Carlo [expressing surprise over Doucoure’s talent], it was nice recognition because it means I had a good season,” said Doucoure.

“In my career, I was never number-one choice [initially] but I finished in the starting XI.


“I have to work hard to earn my place and that is what I did this season.

“I think it will follow me through my career.

“I know next year I have to prove myself again, every year will be like that.

“I proved people wrong and am happy about that.

“We are going to improve the squad to have more competition in every line [defence, midfield and attack].

“The most important thing is to do everything I can to be in the starting XI."

A victory over Manchester City would be a Club-record equalling 12th away from home this season, matching the title-winning teams from 1969/70 and 1984/85.

Doucoure attributes that success on the road to momentum gathered following an opening-day win at Tottenham Hotspur.

But this latest assignment, against the Premier League champions, will be the toughest of the lot, in Doucoure’s view.

And the player agrees with his manager’s assertion that City won’t be distracted by their impending Champions League final against Chelsea.


“We are still in the hunt for Europe… and against the champions it is going to be very hard,” began Doucoure.

“Even if they don’t put out their strongest team, the players on the bench are world-class.

“They are the best team in the world, I think.

“But we have to believe in ourselves… you know you will have chances against them, they lost to Brighton [on Tuesday, after an early sending off], so it is possible.

“We are going to give everything and it would be a huge win."

If Everton finish seventh it would qualify as the best campaign since 2016/17 and represent a five-place jump on last season’s 12th position.

European football would come in the form of the inaugural Europa Conference League.

“It would be a good step for us… then next season we can work to be more serious and reach the Europa League or Champions League,” said Doucoure.

“At the beginning of this season we had big targets but it is very hard to stay in the top four.

“A club like Everton has to play in Europe every year.

“This year was difficult, with new players coming in the team.

“Next season will be better but if we finish seventh it will be an improvement and a good season.”


Doucoure returned to Everton’s team against Aston Villa on 13 May, 10 weeks to the day after fracturing his foot in a game at West Bromwich Albion.

Defying expectations to play before the end of the season meant an opportunity to perform in front of 6,500 Evertonians in Wednesday’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“My only connection with the fans was on social media and it is not the same,” added Doucoure.

“They have been great with me, I received a lot of messages [when injured] and want to thank them for that and give back on the pitch what they give me outside.

“When we play at home with fans it is totally different.

“I did everything possible to come back and am very happy to play again.”