Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti plays down transfer window importance in top four push

Ahead of Premier League game against West Ham, Italian insist getting injured players back in action more important than new signings

Everton's manager Carlo Ancelotti, right, during their Premier League victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on December 26. AP

Ben Godfrey of Everton. Getty

Everton's Anthony Gordon under pressure from George Baldock of Sheffield United. Getty

Ben Osborn of Sheffield United is tackled by Everton's Mason Holgate. Getty

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Getty

Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scores the only goal of the game against Sheffield United. AFP

Gylfi Sigurdsson celebrates after scoring his team's late winner. Getty

Everton's Seamus Coleman, centre, celebrates after the match. AP

Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson scores the winner. AP

Everton defender Yerry Mina. Getty

Everton's Mason Holgate under pressure from Sheffield United striker Rhian Brewster. AFP

Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure. Getty

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. EPA

A winter arrival last season transformed Everton but Carlo Ancelotti is adamant their chances of qualifying for the Champions League do not depend upon this month’s transfer window.

Ancelotti surprised many when the triple Champions League winner joined Everton, who were then languishing in 15th. They finished 2020 in the top four and could go second on Friday, if only for a couple of hours.

Everton’s ambition has proved expensive during Farhad Moshiri’s ownership, with some £500 million ($683.5m) spent on players, but while Ancelotti, unlike some of his predecessors, has an excellent record in the transfer market during his time at Goodison Park he does not see buying as the key to success this season.

The Italian’s flagship signing James Rodriguez will sit out a sixth consecutive game when they host West Ham today while his former Napoli midfielder Allan, another who made an immediate impact, could be sidelined until the end of January.

But Abdoulaye Doucoure has taken on some of Allan’s defensive duties in a run of four consecutive wins while Ben Godfrey, bought from Norwich as a centre-back, has proved a revelation deputising for the injured Lucas Digne at left-back.

Everton’s brilliant December was all the more admirable because of the absentees. Ancelotti wants to strengthen, but by getting key players back and Richarlison is set to return against the Hammers.

“To be in the top four will not depend on the transfer window,” he said. “To be in the top four depends on the quality we are able to show in the second part of the season. That means also to try to avoid the injury that we had in the first part. We had important players out: Digne, Allan, Richarlison.

"If we are able to recover these players, the squad is good enough to be in European position. We have a good squad for this.”

And yet Ancelotti tried to dampen expectations. Everton’s excellence, coupled with the stuttering form of some of the usual suspects, has fostered optimism about belatedly bringing Champions League football to Goodison Park.

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Everton 0 Manchester United 2: League Cup quarter-final player ratings

EVERTON RATINGS: Robin Olsen – 5: The loanee endured a poor start when his slip nearly gifted the ball to Edinson Cavani. A very good double save followed at Cavani’s expense, but overall his saving ability was compromised by his erratic distribution. AP

Seamus Coleman – 6: A strong performance from the right back, keeping his nerve on his return with some good runs and positive distribution up and down the wing. AFP

Yerry Mina – 7: Made a number of good clearances, especially from consecutive corners from the visitors. His positional awareness was impressive, and he looked comfortable with the ball at his feet. AP

Michael Keane – 5: The Englishman repeatedly gave the ball away to the United attack early on, heaping even more pressure on his defensive peers. He made a good forward run in the later stages of the first half, but ultimately he should have done better to stop Cavani’s goal. EPA

Ben Godfrey – 5: The makeshift left-back struggled against Mason Greenwood in the first half. He also lost Cavani multiple times in the box, but he improved in the second half with a few good clearances. Reuters

Abdoulaye Doucoure - 6: The defensive midfielder pressed well and made some key interceptions, but his passing was poor. At times it seemed as though he was playing alone in the midfield. PA

Andre Gomes – 4: A very poor performance from the Portuguese who was missing In action during the first half. Sloppy passing and ball watching made it a game to forget. PA

Alex Iwobi – 5: The winger made some positive runs in the first half and he showed good strength to win – and retain – the ball. However, a mix of poor touches and lacklustre crosses summed up a frustrating evening. AP

Gylfi Sigurdsson – 7 Produced some very good attacking moves, including a dynamic run into the box. He also came close with a free kick which forced Dean Henderson into a stunning save. PA

Richarlison – 6: The Brazilian had a decent first half with some good clearances at the back, but he provided very little attacking threat. He was then forced off early in the second half after ending up on the wrong side of a challenge by Eric Bailly. PA

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 5: The striker had very little support, but he was guilty of giving away cheap fouls and losing out in his aerial duels. A poor game by his high standards. EPA

SUBS: Bernard (Richarlison) - 6: The small winger was brought on early in the second half and made an impact, offering some good runs down the left hand side. His defensive input was poor however, and he was beaten too easily more than once. PA

Tom Davies (Gomes) – 5: In the build-up to United’s first goal, he was nowhere to be seen as Martial slid the ball through to Cavani. Davies found himself partly to blame for United’s second too as he failed to stop Martial from slotting home. AP

Cenk Tosun – N/A: The striker was brought on with minutes to go and formed a front two with Calvert-Lewin, but received little service. He didn’t have much of an impact, apart from giving the ball away for the second goal. PA

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson - 6: Second start in a week after his tough night in Sheffield and one of nine changes from the 6-2 win against Leeds. Confident save from a fine Sigurdsson free-kick as Everton recovered from an anonymous start to create some first-half chances. Clean sheet. Getty

Axel Tuanzebe - 7: As comfortable at right back against Richarlison as he was in a more central role against Neymar and Mbappe in Paris. Needs minutes. Booked. AP

Eric Bailly - 8: Aggressive with Richarlison as the game turned dirtier in the second half and the 2,000 home fans fumed at the decisions against their team. The issue with Bailly is injuries and errors. He avoided both at Goodison and was excellent in one-on-one situations. AP

Harry Maguire - 7: Kept the energetic Dominic Calvert-Lewin quiet at Goodison for the second time in six weeks. Needs to lead his team to a cup final now and get beyond the semi-final barrier which held United back three times in 2020. Getty

Alex Telles - 7: Played more a left winger than a left back. Put a huge amount of energy in and tired towards the end as Iwobi got more space. Encouraging, though struck late free-kick over as United searched for an opening. EPA

Nemanja Matic - 7: Provided a solid platform at the base of a midfield diamond for United’s early onslaught. Touched the ball far more than any other player on the pitch. EPA

Bruno Fernandes - 8: Passing a level above every other player. Still loses the ball, but takes more risks with his passes than others. AP

Donny van de Beek - 6: Neat, steady and unspectacular on the uncustomary left of the diamond. Off after 66 minutes as United pushed for a goal. He’ll be needed this season with the number and intensity of games. EPA

Paul Pogba - 7: Nice touches and combinations with Fernandes. His selection showed Solskjaer wanted to win game. Moved more forward in second half as United tried to make it 25 games since they failed to score a goal in an away game. That was soon fixed. Pogba’s playing well. Another who was booked. EPA

Mason Greenwood - 6: Danced around the ball and his header hit post on 24 after super movement. Exciting when on the ball and gaining valuable experience with every game. PA

Edinson Cavani - 8: Two early efforts blocked with good saves as United completely dominated early on with the Uruguayan as the spearhead. Grabbed Yerry Mina for which he was fortunate not to see red – he would have with var. World class finish with his weaker foot to win the game. Big game player who produces in big games. Reuters

SUBS: Marcus Rashford - 5: On for Greenwood after 67 minutes. Limited impact on game, but rapid in running back to defend after an attack broke down. EPA

Anthony Martial - 7: On for Van de Beek after 67. Played on the right and over hit a 74th minute cross before scoring United’s second in stoppage time. Played the ball which led to Cavani’s opener and scored himself as his team countered when Everton pushed everything up. Now has two goals and four assists from his last three games. Booked. EPA

Luke Shaw - N/A: On for the tired Telles after 83 minutes. The second United sub to be booked. Positive for United that they have two quality left backs. AP

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But four points separate eight teams who are between second and ninth and Ancelotti cautioned: “To be in the top four will be more difficult and also to have a fantastic transfer window in January will be difficult because there are really strong top teams.

"In this moment we are pleased to be there but this doesn’t mean we are at the same level as these top teams.”

For Everton, a good transfer window entails keeping those they already have. Ancelotti is confident Digne will sign a new contract. He also believes Robin Olsen will extend his stay on Merseyside. The goalkeeper was borrowed from Roma and Everton hope to agree a permanent deal.

“We are pleased to have him here,” Ancelotti said. “We are going to talk with him and his agent to find a solution for him to be here permanently. It can be for January or in June.” Olsen is likely to be on the bench today, but he has not just been brought in as Jordan Pickford’s understudy. Ancelotti has rotated and used the Sweden international in the win at Leicester.

Injuries have meant that, apart from a goalkeeper, his recent team selections have consisted purely of centre-backs, midfielders and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Lacking some of his usual suppliers, the striker has gone five games without a goal.

“It is true he had less opportunity,” Ancelotti said. “In the last games, we didn’t have a lot of possession, we didn’t put in a lot of crosses because our full-backs were injured and we played a little bit differently. But he is doing well.” So are Everton.