Ancelotti: ‘Liverpool is not Madrid, it was like living a constant pandemic’
Former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that being in Liverpool is “almost like living through a constant pandemic”.
The respected manager took over at Everton at the end of 2019. The Toffees finished 12th in the Premier League in 2019/20.
The likes of James Rodriguez, Allan and Ben Godfrey signed for Everton before the 2020/21 campaign.
Here’s hoping for Everton relegation after Lampard elitism
They were in the running for a European place but they ended up 10th in the table. Ancelotti departed Everton that summer as he returned to Real Madrid.
Rafael Benitez and Frank Lampard have since had spells at Everton, who are 18th in the league with six games to go.
Ancelotti has now reflected on his time at Everton, saying it was a “miracle” that they got 59 points in 2020/21:
“They (Everton) have a very passionate crowd, I really like that. It was bad luck not being able to enjoy Goodison Park more (due to the pandemic),” Ancelotti told Diario AS.
“We got 59 points, a miracle, but we won more away than at home. It was a good period. (But) Liverpool is not Madrid, it was almost like living through a constant pandemic.”
Ancelotti’s Real Madrid face Man City in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The first leg takes place at the Etihad on Tuesday night.
Speaking on this game, he added: “I am aware that [I am the coach of] the biggest club in the world, the demand is high and I have to accept it. In Napoli I felt fine, but coming back to Madrid was special, I never thought it would happen.
“There are two things, the happiness of being in the semi-finals in this type of match, and the worry. If you’re worried, you’re dealing with what might happen.”
Elsewhere, Danny Murphy has claimed that Anthony Gordon is building himself a reputation for being a diver:
“People get reputations and he’s diving too much. He’s a great player by the way. I really like him, Anthony Gordon. He’s a super talent, but I’ve watched Everton so much this season and he does dive a lot – and this is within the same game.
“Because he’s got that lovely way about him, he’s got great balance, he can go both ways and he’s got a low centre of gravity, he does get fouled a lot.”