Carlo Ancelotti has said the FA Cup remains as important to win as the Premier League but that qualifying for Europe through the league would be more beneficial to Everton’s long-term future.
Everton host Tottenham in the fifth round on Wednesday aiming to maintain their pursuit of a first trophy since 1995 and with their manager insisting the competition retains a celebrated place in English football.
Ancelotti, who won the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2010, said: “As a domestic competition the FA Cup is most important compared to the other countries [he has worked in]. In Italy the Italian Cup is not so important. In Spain the Copa del Rey is really important and also the Pokal [in Germany]. Here to win the FA Cup is like to win the Premier League.
“OIt will be fantastic goal for us. We are dreaming for this. It will be really difficult, really complicated, but the FA Cup in its history was always unpredictable with unpredictable results and also this is an unpredictable season so we have hope.”
Ancelotti, however, believes it would be more important for the growth of the club to qualify for Europe as one of the leading teams in the Premier League, although the FA Cup winners do qualify for the Europa League group stage.
“To win a trophy will be very important for the happiness but the stability of the club would be improved by reaching the European positions,” he said.
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“With more stability we have more possibility to win the cup and other trophies. Stability is the base to have success. We fight to try to win trophies but at the same time we have look for the stability of the club. To keep Everton in the first positions in the league and in Europe we are going to have more possibility to have success in the FA Cup.”
He added: “I know how Evertonians are desperate to have a trophy back and we are working on this. I don’t know if it is the right time this season. What I can assure them is we are doing everything to try and have a trophy here as soon as possible.”
from Football | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2NbxygS
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