- Title: Ancelotti praises Everton's team spirit
- Date: 31st December 2019
- Summary: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (DECEMBER 31, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARLO ANCELOTTI, EVERTON MANAGER, SAYING: "I was surprised for the spirit of the team. As I said, I think the work that Duncan (Ferguson) did was really good because he increased with his job the spirit of the team. And so, I found players with character, with good attitude, so I think this was the reason I didn't change a lot because you have no time in one week to change a lot of things, but the spirit was good."
- Embargoed: 14th January 2020 11:40
- Keywords: Ancelotti Everton Ferguson Manchester City Soccer manager
- Location: NEWCASTLE AND LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK
- City: NEWCASTLE AND LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA002BCB3ARJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Everton's new manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday (December 31) that caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson did an impressive job in his time in charge of the club.
Ancelotti has seen his side record victories over Newcastle United and Burnley, becoming only the third Everton manager to win his first two Premier League games in charge, emulating the achievement by Joe Royle in 1994 and David Moyes in 2002.
The Italian, who named Ferguson his assistant after the club's former striker had overseen a three-match unbeaten run, was delighted and also credited the Scot for some fine groundwork.
The results have lifted Everton to 10th in the standings on 25 points from 20 games, above 11th-placed Newcastle on goal difference.
Everton next face two tough away games, a league match at Manchester City on Wednesday followed by a trip to Anfield for a F.A. Cup third round clash with runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool, but Ancelotti said he was relishing seeing how his players perform against the top sides.
Ancelotti, who said he was impressed with the spirit in the squad, played down speculation about signings in the January transfer window, saying he was concentrating on the next two matches and would assess the situation when they are out of the way.
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