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Post by Everton News. on Mar 1, 2021 22:14:23 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Mar 3, 2021 20:59:07 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Mar 3, 2021 20:59:50 GMT
Carlo Ancelotti says Everton will check on the fitness of Seamus Coleman, James Rodriguez, Tom Davies and Robin Olsen in training on Wednesday afternoon to determine if they are fit to face West Bromwich Albion on Thursday (6pm GMT).
The quartet missed Monday night’s 1-0 home victory over Southampton with minor injuries.
Ancelotti added Everton will also assess how Allan has recovered from playing his first game after more than two months out in the win against the Saints before deciding if he will feature against West Brom.
The Blues boss confirmed defender Yerry Mina is definitely unavailable for the Blues with a calf injury.
Fabian Delph will also miss Thursday’s game due to a tendon problem, while Jean-Philippe Gbamin is continuing his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury.
When asked at his pre-match press conference whether Coleman, James, Davies and Olsen were in contention for the West Brom match, Ancelotti said: “We have training on Wednesday afternoon and I cannot give the precise information.
“We are going to check these players in training to see if they will be available or not.
"For sure, we will not have Mina, Delph and Gbamin.
“The other players, we will also check today.”
Monday’s victory over Southampton represented midfielder Allan’s first Everton appearance since the Blues’ 2-0 win at Leicester City on 16 December.
Allan – who was sidelined with a hamstring injury – played the full 90 minutes at Goodison Park. Ancelotti explained why the Blues will take a cautious approach as the Brazilian strives to return to peak fitness.
“After a few months out, he was maybe not 100 per cent fit [against Southampton],” the Italian added.
“I think the staff worked hard on him. He was in good condition. He was motivated and wanted to play.
“Of course, he is a player we have to check today [Wednesday] to see if he can play against West Brom.
“We have to take care a little bit after two months out.
“But his performance against Southampton was really, really good – as usual. His performances are very consistent.
"He is not up and down. His consistency is always at the top.”
The West Brom contest kicks off less than 72 hours after Everton took to the field at Goodison Park on Monday.
Following the game at The Hawthorns, the Blues will face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday 8 March – and Ancelotti underlined the importance of utilising the depth of quality in his squad amid such a congested fixture programme.
"It is true there are a lot a of games but we will not complain about the schedule," he added.
"We had 10 days before the game against Southampton, so we could prepare the team well for that game.
"Now it is a busy time.
"For sure, rotation will be important to avoid injury and keep all the players motivated."
Everton FC
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Post by Avinalaff on Mar 3, 2021 21:09:35 GMT
Can't have Sam winning this one.
Nothing against him, but need to smash WBA.
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Post by Everton News. on Mar 3, 2021 21:17:33 GMT
Carlo Ancelotti says Everton are using growing expectation as a motivational tool in their quest to convert a promising campaign into one that helps shape the Club’s future.
Everton’s position on the cusp of the Premier League’s top-four places is leading some observers and pundits to talk up Ancelotti’s team as potential Champions League qualifiers.
Indeed, Ancelotti insists climbing to fourth with victory at West Bromwich Albion on Thursday would represent a significant step – regardless of the possibility of being overtaken later in the same day.
The Italian maintains a top-six finish and Europa League qualification remains the overarching goal for his first full season in charge.
But the carrot of Champions League football is dangling with only 13 matches to play.
“We are pleased to be in the fight, expectation is motivation for us,” said Ancelotti, a three-times Champions League winning manager.
“If expectation [on Everton] is high that is absolutely normal for a club with fantastic history that wants to be back where it was in the past.
“Expectation is not a bad word, it is a good word because it keeps you motivated.
“For the career of every player, their ambition is to play at the top.
“The Champions League is the top competition, so the motivation of the players to be involved is really high… it is a step forwards for their careers.
“The players are really focused on what we can achieve.
“They understand it can be an important season, not only for the future of the Club but for the future of every one of us.
“We want to be there [in fourth after the West Brom match], just to see how it feels.
“Three points are important to stay in that fight.
“The situation of the European positions, I think, will be decided in the last game and we want to be there until the end.”
Nine days separated Everton’s defeat of Liverpool from the victory over Southampton on Monday which placed a full stop against a poor run of results at Goodison Park.
Ancelotti’s side are back on the treadmill, now, with a visit to Chelsea scheduled four days after the meeting with West Brom.
The Everton manager is refusing to be sucked into thinking about the date with his former club next Monday, however, with Sam Allardyce's team his sole concern this week.
West Brom are unbeaten in three matches, a mini-run which started with a draw against Manchester United and has featured two clean sheets.
“We are not thinking about Chelsea, we have an important game tomorrow,” continued Ancelotti, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“I am sure West Brom will be really motivated and we have to be strong and motivated, also.
"We have to pay attention, the consistency of West Brom defensively is there and to find opportunities will not be easy.
"They improved and it will be difficult to find a solution in front.
"Every game is complicated.
“Southampton are on a bad run but it was not an easy game, they have fighting spirit.
“Our run at home was not good enough but that game showed the good concentration and spirit of the team."
Ancelotti reiterated he had “no complaints” over the condensed Premier League programme and would remain wedded to a rotation policy to try to “avoid injuries and keep the players motivated”.
He is waiting to see how Allan recovers from his first 90 minutes in nearly 11 weeks before making a call on the Brazilian’s involvement at West Brom.
If defender Ben Godfrey, features, meanwhile, it would represent a 17th Premier League appearance in 18 games for a player reportedly impressing England manager Gareth Southgate.
“Who is not impressed by Ben Godfrey?” said Ancelotti.
“He is doing really well, we are really pleased and really happy to have him.
“For sure, with his performances it is absolutely normal the manager of England has a look at him.
“With Allan, we have to take care... but his performance was really, really good.
“Allan is always like this… he is not up and down
“Other players maybe have better technical quality but his consistency is really high and always at the top.”
By Paul McNamara / Everton FC
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