“It is not only technical. Some players with unbelievable technical skill are not a good player because they do not have the character or personality to support this.”
Ancelotti is still expected to have money to spend in January and have been strongly linked to the unsettled Real Madrid attacking midfielder James Rodriguez – a player he has worked with twice before, at the Bernabeu and at Bayern.
He promised progress “after January 5” when they have the FA Cup match against Liverpool and he has talked through options with Director of Football Marcel Brands and the board.
After that the fixture list stretches invitingly for the Toffees with Brighton, West Ham, Newcastle, Watford and Crystal Palace to follow between now and the next international break.