Carlo Ancelotti admits Jordan Pickford made error in Everton's 1-1 draw with Leicester City in midweek; Ancelotti says he has "no doubts" over Pickford's "quality or motivation"; Everton are seventh in Premier League table heading into Newcastle game
Friday 29 January 2021 16:36, UK
Carlo Ancelotti has refused to say whether Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will start against Newcastle on Saturday after his error in midweek.
The England number one was at fault for Leicester's equaliser in Wednesday's 1-1 draw, pushing a Youri Tielemans' shot into the net.
Ancelotti has occasionally rotated his goalkeepers this season - coincidentally Pickford was left out for the trip to St James' Park in November, with summer loan signing Robin Olsen preferred - but did not want to disclose who would play at Goodison Park this weekend.
Asked whether Pickford would start, the Everton manager said: "I don't know. I have to think about this. I am not in the habit of giving the line-up during the press conference.
"He did a mistake and I think that we can say this, but this doesn't change for me or his team-mates the confidence we have.
"He did fantastic saves in the past and if the team is solid it is solid because Pickford was better than in the period before. There is absolutely no problem or doubt in his quality or his motivation.
"Pickford didn't play against Newcastle for normal rotation. I am used to doing this in this period as we have a lot of games.
"We have to play tomorrow, Wednesday, next weekend. We are going to have a lot of games and Jordan will be rotated like the other players.
"I think there is good competition there and the signing of Olsen helped him to be more motivated but also with less pressure."
In spite of Pickford's more recent mistake, Everton's defensive record has been good of late.
They have not conceded more than one goal in their last nine matches and that has brought them five wins and two draws.
"We have more consistency now, are more focused defensively," Ancelotti added.
"We want to attack more. To be able to defend when you have to defend is important. One of the priorities of the team is to read the situation because when you have to defend and you try to attack it is a mistake.
"I think we were able to read the situations of the games."
As they feature in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off, Everton have a chance to go level on points with four-placed Liverpool, who play against another of their current Champions League-chasing rivals, West Ham, on Sunday.
"For us it is really important because we have the possibility to go up in the table and it can be good motivation for the second part of the season," said Ancelotti.
"We know we have to fight for this and we are going to fight."
