Former Everton defender Sylvain Distin has hailed Carlo Ancelotti, saying the Italian is on the same level as Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho.
Ancelotti has been at Everton since last year when the Blues brought him in to replace Marco Silva after a disastrous start to the season.
He has proven to be a huge hit on Merseyside, with many believing he is the big-name, successful managerial appointment that Everton have needed for a long time.
His arrival was seen as a sign of big ambition from Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, and Distin agrees with that completely, although he says it’s too early to think about a title challenge.
“Carlo Ancelotti personifies it (the ambition),” he told France Football.
“He is in the same circle as Klopp, Guardiola, Mourinho. You can sense that he is committed to the long term.
“Let’s not get carried away! We will have to beat the top 6 teams. Saturday’s derby against the Reds comes at the best moment. Liverpool are an injured beast after their defeat at Aston Villa (2-7).”
It is the Blues best start to a league season for 100 years, propelled by a summer transfer window that saw them securing big names such as Allan and James Rodriguez.
Those signings have helped improve the overall quality of a squad that already had plenty but had failed to show it under previous managers.
Distin, though, admits he has a particular weakness for one of his former teammates, and of course the French players at Goodison Park.
“I have a weakness for right-back Séamus Coleman with whom I played,” he added.
“There is also Dominic Calvert-Lewin (6 goals), who has just been called up for the national team. Proof that something is happening at Everton.
“(Lucas) Digne and (Abdoulaye) Doucouré are underrated in France because they haven’t played there much and they don’t play at a media club. But they are super pros, solid, discreet.”
