Carlo Ancelotti believes Yerry Mina is a player transformed at Everton after enduring a couple of ‘problems’ earlier in the Premier League season, as he told the Liverpool Echo.
While Lucas Digne has been an inspired addition to the Toffees squad since his 2018 arrival from Barcelona, another former Camp Nou bench-warmer still has his fair share of doubters.
Mina, the £28 million Colombia international, formed a superb partnership with Michael Keane in the opening few weeks of 2020/21 but, as ever, mistakes were never far away.
He struggled in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United and was dropped to the bench after Everton crawled over the line against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Mina was back to his best as Chelsea were put to the sword at Goodison Park, however, with Ancelotti hailing the ‘bouncebackability’ of his 6ft 5ins man-mountain.
“I am happy with his level. He is doing better. He had some problems in some games but is now more focused and playing with confidence,” the former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss explained.
Mina, of course, has been aided by circumstances.
After all, the South American might have spent a few more weeks on the bench if it wasn’t for an ill-timed injury to Digne.
Ben Godfrey has been forced to fill in at left-back in Digne’s absence, with Mina then offered the chance to reinstate himself in Ancelotti’s XI; an opportunity he has seized with both hands.
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