Carlo Ancelotti says Everton job is just like rebuilding project he oversaw at Ligue 1 giants PSG – The Sun
CARLO ANCELOTTI likened his Everton rebuilding job to the project he had at Paris Saint-Germain.
The trophy-laden manager’s move to the troubled Toffees has raised more eyebrows than just his own.
But Ancelotti explained that Everton’s “ambition” — outlined yesterday with final plans for a new £500million stadium — is the reason he has taken what most see as a step down in his glittering career.
And the Italian quickly compared his task at Goodison Park to when he took charge at the Parc des Princes eight years ago.
Ancelotti is best known for lifting the Champions League trophy twice with AC Milan and again with Real Madrid, as well as winning the league with Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
But in his only full season in France, he led PSG to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and reached the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite competition — their best run since 1995.
Ancelotti, 60, said: “The biggest factor is the ambition of the club. It’s true I’ve managed top teams but it’s also true when I was at Paris Saint-Germain, the project was really good there and that attracted me.
“So it was the ambition of the club. I think here is the same. I like a team that has ambition and a clear idea of how to gain success.”
'NEW STADIUM ATTRACTED ME'
That will be music to the ears of Evertonians. If a boss like Ancelotti can see potential for progress, there is surely hope for all on the blue half of Merseyside.
Of course, at PSG, Ancelotti was bankrolled by Qatari cash and able to attract the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham and Thiago Silva.
But Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has shown he is happy to back his boss with weighty war chests.
And Ancelotti says he will look at “fantastic players around the world”. The veteran, though, is also “excited” by the prospect of leading the Toffees out in their new home in 2023.
Everton yesterday submitted a planning application for a 52,000-capacity stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.
Ancelotti, whose 4½-year deal keeps him at the club until 2024, said: “What I know from talking with Farhad is that the club wants to be competitive in the Premier League, so for me that is enough.
“The fact that the club wants to build a new stadium, that means they have a clear idea of how to improve, to have success.
“It means the ambition of the club is really high and I’m excited to be in this project.
“It could be good for me to be here when the new stadium is open. This is what attracted me.
“If in three years the stadium has been built, it could be good as revenue in football now is really important.
“Everton want to improve, they want to improve their revenue and be more competitive with the top teams in the Premier League and Europe.”
Ancelotti will take charge of his first game at Goodison on Boxing Day against Burnley, having watched Saturday’s goalless draw against Arsenal from the stands.
He has unhappy memories from the last time he managed a match there, as Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay sacked him in a corridor inside the ground just after a final-day defeat in May 2011.
'NO SECRETS IN FOOTBALL'
Ancelotti has worked in France, Spain, Germany and Italy since those two seasons with the Blues in the Premier League.
But he said: “For a manager now, you can see football everywhere in the world.
“The Premier League is the most competitive league, so in Italy you can see every single game. There are no secrets in football.”
Ancelotti also confirmed Duncan Ferguson will work as his assistant following the Everton legend’s successful stint as caretaker manager.
He added: “I met Duncan after the game on Saturday. He will be on my staff as assistant.
“I am used to working with an assistant from the club.
“At PSG I had Claude Makelele, at Madrid I had Zinedine Zidane and at Bayern I had Willy Sagnol.
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