Football

Ancelotti wants Iwobi to clarify Instagram comments

Alex Iwobi (archive).

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he will be having face-to-face conversations with his Nigerian star, Alex Iwobi over his recent comments on social media.

Reacting to being named in Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Lesotho, Iwobi took to social media to voice his sentiments, albeit in cryptic fashion.

In the post on Instagram, the Everton man reiterated his honour to get a call up to represent his country again but added that he hoped to “get to play in my preferred position.” 

He wrote: “Always an honour to get a call up to my National Team. Hopefully I get to play in my preferred position.” 

Ancelotti was less than impressed with the post and revealed in his press conference on Friday that he will seek face to face clarifications.
“I read the post that he did. I would like to know his preferred position because usually I want to put players on the pitch where they are comfortable to play,” Ancelotti said. “If he has an idea of where he prefers to play, I have to know. I want to know.” 
“I want to put players on the pitch where they are comfortable to play and not where they are uncomfortable.
“If he has an idea about his preferred position, I want to know.
“I have to tell him and I will tell him; “Tell me, I am your manager, tell me where you want to play!” I will play him in his preferred position no doubt.
“When I put (Andrea) Pirlo as a holding midfielder, I asked him: ‘Do you want to play there or not’? And Pirlo said: ‘Yes, I will love to play there.’ So I put his there.
“If he wants to play No.10 or No.9, I can put him there no problem. I can adapt the system.”

Story by Sammy Wejina

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