Current Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti made a huge statement about Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City claiming that the Citizens do not have any rigid identity in a positive sense ahead of their FA Cup quarter final clash.
The Toffees will be eager to halt Manchester City’s historic quadruple chase this season by knocking them out of the FA Cup. However, the Italian tactician is wary of the strengths that his opponents possess as they have been thrashing teams in both home and away in all competitions.
The former AC Milan manager told the reporters, “I would like to talk about Manchester City. Manchester City are a fantastic team but they have no clear identity.”
“Sometimes they build up with three, sometimes with two, sometimes their right back goes to play as a holding midfielder.
“They have clear principles. That is the difference.”
He also highlighted the flexible system that Guardiola tends to use and how versatile the players he has at his disposal who can play multiple positions with ease.
“Sometimes they don’t play with a centre-forward, they play with a No 10 as a centre-forward, so the identity of Manchester City is not clear. If they had a clear identity you would be more able to manage their shape, but the fact is they change their shape.
“What doesn’t change is their principles of keeping the ball, having possession and to show the quality they have. The principles never change,” added the Everton tactician.
Ancelotti is a veteran of the game and despite having so many silverware in his locker room the 61-year old is still hungry for more. His current ambition is to win silverware with the Toffees which will be a huge achievement considering the condition of the club at the moment. However, he is leaving no stone unturned as he has already bolstered the squad with players Allan, James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Ben Godfrey.
The Italian tactician is still eager to improve on the quality of his players at the Goodison Park and there is a clear indication that Everton might splash the cash again to bring in reinforcements this summer. Therefore he added, “To improve we have to improve the knowledge of the players we have. We still have young players in the squad, and we have to improve the quality of the squad with new signings.”
