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Former Everton midfielder Trevor Steven believes winning a trophy is the catalyst Carlo Ancelotti’s side need and wants to see them take the lead against Manchester United this week.
The duo will meet at Goodison Park in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, with the Toffees reaching perfect form with three successive Premier League wins.
Everton’s last trophy was the FA Cup in 1995 and, after a few false dawns, under Ancelotti’s experience, it seems their best chance to end this fruitless race.
Steven won two league titles and a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup with the big Toffees of the mid-1980s, but insists it wouldn’t have been possible without their 1984 FA Cup triumph.
He believes bringing back a first piece of silverware to Goodison Park in over a quarter of a century could be the stepping stone to better things, as it did for him and his teammates under Howard Kendall.
“It’s a cup, isn’t it, and I think in the mid-80s we needed a trophy to be the catalyst for others and we won the FA Cup in 1984,” said he told the PA news agency.
“It’s an opportunity that exists. Manchester United seem to find some form of goal but concedes.
“What I would love to see is a forefoot performance from Everton and I think Carlo managed to build that result so that the bad performances weren’t so bad.
“I think it’s an opportunity and I wouldn’t say it’s a bonus, but I would say it’s worth having a solid line-up to go through with it, because there isn’t There is nothing like winning a trophy to build self-confidence and cement self-confidence with a group of players who have a lot of talent.
“Everton are here with a very good chance of fighting for a trophy and Carlo would also recognize that for Everton it would be a huge step forward.”
Everton are currently exceeding expectations in the Premier League, vying for Champions League qualification after recovering from a seven-game win after their best start to the campaign in more than a century.
Steven believes Ancelotti, after six months to assess what he inherited from Marco Silva when he was appointed exactly a year ago, has managed to iron out some of the inconsistencies that have hampered the former leaders.
“Considering Carlo has been a club for a year, what he’s been able to do has been amazing,” added Steven, mental health ambassador for construction-specific software company Causeway Technologies, who donated. of £ 200,000 for the construction and development of The People’s Place. , Everton in the purpose-built mental health building proposed by Everton in the shadow of Goodison Park.
“I don’t think the Champions League is a conversation that anyone would want right now because there is too much football to be played.
“Without over-coaching people, it’s all about belief, playing for each other and 100% commitment and it doesn’t happen by accident, it’s because you have a coach who understands football as much as anyone actively coaches now.
“He’s dealing with the crises that arise when it comes to the fitness of your team, he’s a little lucky every now and then, he’s building up.
“What I’ve enjoyed up to this point in the season for Everton is that they’ve gained momentum, lost momentum and regained momentum.
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