Carlo Ancelotti tells unhappy Everton players they are welcome to leave

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has questioned the commitment of his players and says anyone who wants to leave this summer can go.

The Italian was livid after his side’s defeat by Sheffield United on Sunday, which means they need favours from elsewhere to qualify for Europe.

And while Ancelotti insists he does not need a “revolution” to rebuild his squad, he admits he was forced to seek some home truths from his players after their latest setback at Goodison Park.

“There is no player that I can force to stay here,” Ancelotti said. “All of the players. What I told them is that if someone is not happy to stay here he has to leave, because the player has to want to be part of this project.

“An unhappy player is not going to be a good part of this project. I don’t want to have unhappy players here. I want to have players who are happy to stay at Everton and feel part of this project. It is not a new thought. It is not unusual to say to the players, if you are not comfortable here or not happy you have to discuss with the club, and then you have to find a solution. You have to want to be here and be happy.”

Sunday’s loss to bottom club Sheffield United was the lowest point in a season which had promised much more. “The commitment was not good, and I wanted the players to know,” Ancelotti said. “From most of them the commitment was not good. Unacceptable as the game was so important. I hope for a reaction.”

The return of 6,500 fans for Wednesday's game against Wolverhampton Wanderers may help reverse Everton’s home form, which equalled their worst run in history.

“The analysis of the season will be important in terms of recruiting new players, but the analysis is not only of the home defeats,” Ancelotti said. “We also have to consider the away run we had. We planned 21 games to be strong defensively, to use the counter-attack and to be strong on set-pieces. Of these 21 games we won 14, with sacrifice.

“And 15 games we tried to play a little bit different – build-up, put more players in front, more players in between the lines – and of these 15 games we won only two.”

Ancelotti said those tactical adjustments proved he did not have the players required to play a more offensive style. “ This is the truth. The results we were able to achieve this season were through sacrifice and good defensive organisation,” he said.

“I would like to plan 38 games attacking football, but it’s not always possible.”

Analysis: Ancelotti has delivered his verdict - but not not expect an Everton exodus

Anyone trying to work out who Carlo Ancelotti was referencing when questioning players’ commitment to Everton may have found themselves drawing up an extended list of suspects on Sunday evening.

Defeat to Sheffield United was the nadir of a campaign which would have a different complexion but for the grimmest of home records. Even moderately acceptable Goodison form would have maintained Everton’s Champions League qualification hopes. Instead they are praying for a slip from Tottenham and West Ham in pursuit of seventh.

It should be noted that when opening the door for unhappy players to leave, Ancelotti was initially speaking about on-loan striker Moise Kean.

Kean says he wants to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, and although his parent club expects him back for pre-season they will sell him if the price is right.

“If he's not happy and wants to stay with Paris Saint-Germain the only way is to find a deal with Paris Saint-Germain,” said Ancelotti.

More surprising was the Italian’s willingness to negotiate the exit of anyone else wanting out, although the market values of Everton’s most saleable assets would make for a prolonged and tetchy negotiation should any of his best players get itchy feet.

Although Ancelotti said it has always been the case that unhappy players can go, his tone has shifted since earlier in the season.

When reports emerged in March that Ancelotti had urged striker Richarlison to commit for ‘one more season’ last summer, the manager’s response was emphatic.

“I don't know how long his contract is, honestly, but Richarlison will stay here as long as I stay. This is for sure,” he said.

“I like him as a player. And if he doesn't like me as a manager, it doesn't matter, he will stay."

There is no indication Ancelotti was talking about Richarlison ahead of Wednesday’s visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers, even though the Brazilian has been infuriatingly inconsistent when compared to the general excellence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ben Godfrey, Lucas Digne and veteran Seamus Coleman. Abdoulaye Doucoure was excellent prior to being injured so can be excused his off-night against Sheffield United, but James Rodriguez and Allan’s early season impact has faded, they too suffering with too many injuries.

With respect to many others within Ancelotti’s squad, they would not interest Premier League clubs above Everton. Director of football Marcel Brands has spent so much of his Goodison career trying to shift deadwood, he would probably be relieved if a few fringe players came to him over the summer telling him they had already found a solution agreeable to all parties.

So despite Ancelotti’s blunt assessment, it would be wise not to anticipate an imminent exodus.

“We don’t need to do a revolution. Absolutely not,” said Ancelotti.

“We had a good plan last season, when we signed good players. We have to do that again.”

It is more likely he wanted to deliver a strong message before the turnstiles reopen and 6,500 fans delivered an even more brutal verdict than their manager if the home season does not end on a high. The final game of this Goodison season will go some way to establishing how many of Ancelotti’s players deserve to be there on the first day of the next one.