Phil Thompson has praised Michael Keane for his change in form at Everton as he believes he had ‘suffered a lot’ prior to Carlo Ancelotti arriving at the club.
There’s no doubt that Everton have looked a different animal under the highly-regarded Italian, as Thompson admitted that he is ‘pleased’ Keane is back to his best, as he told Soccer Saturday (04/07/20 1:40 pm).
It’s not only Keane who has found form under Ancelotti, Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, are other players who have vastly improved.
Former Liverpool centre-back, Thompson, shared his thoughts on Keane’s situation under Marco Silva and now Ancelotti.
“Absolutely [On Keane benefiting the most from Ancelotti’s arrival],” Thompson told Soccer Saturday.
“I look at Michael Keane. I look at him a lot because this was an England international. This was a guy who was going to be vying to play for England on a regular basis. Fantastic at Burnley and you are going ‘what happened to him?’.
“He suffered a lot. With his lack of form for England, his lack of form, first and foremost, for Everton. And then you go ‘what has happened to this young man?’. You then have to play with confidence. You have to defend right.
“I spoke before about Ben Mee, in and around the box. This guy likes to do that. I am so pleased for him. So much was expected of him at Everton and he found that very difficult – I am glad to see him come forward. I think he has done really, really well.”
Keane will be hoping to show his defensive worth on Monday night when his side takes on Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham.
The Toffees are four points off eighth-placed Sheffield United, and if Man City’s European ban stands, then that spot will be open for Europa League football, so this season might just end in a special way.
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