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Michael Ball says Carlo Ancelotti may have figured out a way to save Everton ‘important money’
Ev💞erton head coach Carlo Ancelotti may have figured out a way to save the Toffees “important money” in the summer, according to Michael Ball.
On Saturday, Everton delivered a brave per🥂formance against Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals, though they were ultimately beaten 2-0 at Goodison Park.
Ever༺ton’s goa﷽lkeeping situation raised concerns prior to the game, given both Jordan Pickford and Robin Olsen were unavailable.
Joao Virginia, who had made his🍒 Premier League debut just a week earlier, was drafted in against Pep Guardiola’s side, and he did very❀ well in the game.
The 21-year-old academy graduate had little to do in the first ha𒀰lf but was called into action to make a fantastic fingertip save to༒ deny Raheem Sterling just before the hour mark.
There was little Vi🦹rginia could do about either goal, and aft♌er the game, his performance was lauded by many fans.
And Ball believes t🀅he Portuguese will have given Ancelotti food for thought when it comes to the summer transfer window🔯.
“Against a top-quality𝓰 side he was really, really good,” the former Everton ace wrote in th💞e .
“It was a performance that was encouraging and it has given the club something to think ab𒈔out in the sumꦕmer.
“Obviously they want someone to push Jordan Pickford for his place and Joao could be promoted to number two and allow the scouting department to kick-on and land players in other areas if he sho꧃ws he can be at that level consis𓄧tently.
“It’s only one full game we have s🎃een him play but Carlo watches him every day at Fin🔥ch Farm.
“He has a lack of experience, yes𒁃, but a decision will 𓄧have to be made over him and Robin Olsen eventually.
“My feeling is Carlo wants instant success an𝔍d with thaꦐt, he wants experienced footballers with quality.
“So if he can save important money on buying a new back-up goalkeeper with Joao, then that wouꦬld surely be the way he wants to go.
“Carlo trusted Joao against Manchester City and he showed🦹 everyone he is capable.”
TBR View:
Ball sums it up really well – Virginia has shown ꦡhis quality against one of European football’s most ไdangerous sides.
At 21, he’s really young for a goalkeeper and has plenty of years a🌼head of him.
Virginia has surely earned himsel♏f Everton’s back-up spot at the very least, so that’ll be one less concern for Ancelotti when it comes to moving in the market.