Carlo Ancelotti, DT of Everton, confirmed this Friday that he will not have James Rodríguez for the Premier League against Arsenal this Saturday (12.30pm Colombian time).
It will be the third match in line that the Colombian misses, following the absences against Chelsea and Leicester, rivals for which Everton has scored significant wins that put him in fifth place in the table today, 5 units behind the leader, Liverpool.
After explaining that the left-hander is not ready yet, that he is back at work but they are not taking any chances and hoping “that he can be ready for the game against United for the Carabao Cup” the questions were very specific about the physical condition and defensive dedication of who was one of the revelations at the start of the season.
Ancelotti was clear when he replied if the team is improving without their number 19: “I don’t think so,” he said with a laugh. It is true that we had the zero in the last two games, but the hardest part was doing it on the first day of the season (against Tottenham) and it was with James. defended. “
And he added, “Our ability to defend ourselves well doesn’t depend on whether James is on the pitch or not, it depends on whether we can all defend as a team, fight, that we are focused, that we all cooperate in this case.
When asked if he was concerned that he didn’t have any of his stars in three games in a row, he simply said “he didn’t play those games because we have games every three days, that’s the situation, the problem is in its ankle, but it’s nothing. special, “he explained.
In this way, Ancelotti reaffirms his total confidence in the Colombian, he seems to rule out the possibility that on his return he will have to compete with anyone for the position or that his commitment is at stake, above what it costs him to fulfill in defensive duties. . With James on the field, Everton will play differently and nothing else, not that he’s playing worse, at least in the DT’s consideration. This makes recovery easier. With the DT at his side, his best version is therefore expected.