Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has stepped in to defend under-fire Jordan Pickford over a malicious challenge on Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
Pickford is going through a rough time, having been continually under attack for an over-zealous tackle on Van Dijk in a Merseyside Derby.
England’s number one goalkeeper made a reckless challenge that could result in the Dutch defender missing the remainder of the season.
Many, including Georginio Wijnaldum, have described the 26-year-old’s tackle as ‘pre-meditated’ and ‘stupid.’
However, Carlo Ancelotti has found those accusations unfair and has taken a stand against such claims.
The Italian manager has also stated that everyone at Everton is sorry for Van Dijk’s potential season-ending knee injury.
“To be clear, we are really sorry for the injury of Virgil van Dijk. Every one of us hopes he can recover soon and well,” he said, as relayed by The Independent.
“There was this contact with Jordan Pickford: it was mistimed contact but the fact the Premier League is so fast, it is not so difficult to arrive a little bit later.
“It can happen. He [Pickford] arrived a little bit later, but his intention was to try to catch the ball. It was not to hurt Virgil van Dijk.
“To say it was pre-meditated and this and that, in my opinion, is too much. Virgil van Dijk knows this. This is football, and unfortunately, you can be injured.
“Jordan is really sad, really disappointed [Van Dijk is injured], but to say it was pre-meditated, it was stupid, is not fair.
“It was a strong contact, maybe mistimed, but sometimes in football, it can happen.”
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