This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
December 24, 2019 - Carlo Ancelotti, the newly appointed Everton manager, has outlined his ambitious plans for the Merseyside club, with competing in the Champions League as his long-term objective.
Ancelotti, one of Europe's most successful coaches, left Napoli this month to replace Marco Silva, who was sacked after a 5-2 Premier League defeat by Liverpool.
The 60-year-old Italian has a proven track record of success at top clubs, including AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, but faces a different challenge in revitalising Everton, who are currently 15th in the league.
“The Champions League is the long-term objective. Nothing is impossible,” Ancelotti told reporters on Monday. “It’s true I managed top clubs. At PSG the project was good. I think here it’s the same.”
Ancelotti's experience at PSG, where he guided the team to a first league title in 19 years in the 2012-13 season and the Champions League quarter-finals, gives him confidence in his ability to achieve similar success at Everton.
He was also impressed by the club's ambition, citing the proposed new 52,000-seater Bramley-Moore Dock stadium as evidence of their commitment to success.
“The fact the club wants to build a stadium means they have a clear idea of how they want success,” Ancelotti said.
He also expressed his openness to the possibility of signing free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a player he worked with at PSG.
“Zlatan is a good friend but I don’t know what his idea is,” Ancelotti said. “I have to call him.”
Ancelotti's first game in charge is against Burnley on Thursday.
