If there’s one thing we know about Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, it’s that he likes to give his players a certain autonomy.
While obviously very tactically astute and extremely adept at developing players, the Italian’s biggest strength has always been his relationship with his players.
It is this ability to build a relationship and build a squad, all pushing in the same direction, that has led to his success at big clubs like Real Madrid, PSG and AC Milan.
Indeed his ability to let the players sort themselves out was a major part of his success at the Bernabeu, where the superstar players thrived under his open approach.
It has also gotten the best out of what is currently available to him at Everton, with the Italian very much flourishing at Goodison Park and the Blues on the right track as a result.
It appears that Ancelotti’s open approach isn’t just limited to the pitch, though, with former Napoli doctor Alfonso De Nicola revealing the Everton boss wants players to deal with their own fitness too.
“But he said that each player had to manage himself, also because the players were like a business.
“So I said to him: ‘It’s not worth investing in the medical staff. If each player decides for himself where to treat himself, what is the point of the medical staff?'”
Perhaps this strategy goes some way to explaining the situation with James Rodríguez at Everton this season.
Much has been made of his injury issues, and the game time he has missed, with the media in his home country particularly focused on it.
Ancelotti has largely refused to comment beyond basic information, but perhaps that is simply part of his strategy of leaving players to sort themselves out.
Perhaps despite appearing fit, Rodríguez has openly stated he is not 100% when asked, something Ancelotti has taken his word on and thus led to his absences.
That would certainly make sense given De Nicola’s little revelation and explain why there has been such little information around the Colombian when he’s been out.
