Ancelotti targets Europe for Everton after Rodriguez signing

VIDEO SHOWS: EVERTON UNVEIL NEW SIGNING JAMES RODRIGUEZ, MANAGER CARLO ANCELOTTI SAYING CLUB AIMS TO FIGHT FOR EUROPEAN PLACES IN LEAGUE / JAMES SAYS HE'S CONFIDENT HE CAN PERFORM WELL IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS:

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 10, 2020) (EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB - ACCESS ALL)

1. EVERTON MANAGER, CARLO ANCELOTTI, WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM WITH NEW SIGNING, JAMES RODRIGUEZ, / ANCELOTTI AND JAMES HOLDING UP COLOMBIAN'S NEW NUMBER 19 SHIRT AT CLUB / ANCELOTTI AND JAMES SITTING

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EVERTON MANAGER, CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING:

"I think the goal that we want to achieve is to fight for the first positions of the Premier League, to be able to reach Europe the next season. The goal is quite clear. We have this desire, we have this ambition, and I think we can."

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NEW EVERTON SIGNING, JAMES RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

"Well, it was a good year with him. I hope this year will be good too. I hope I can help the club achieve important things. And well, this club wants good things. I can see they are serious about it and like I said before, this club has a history, it's been around for years and has a name for itself so it has to be a club that wins things. So, we'll go day by day and we hope we can do good things here."

5. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NEW EVERTON SIGNING, JAMES RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

"Yeah, I always say soccer is the same everywhere. If you're talented and have quality, you could even play on another planet. We know it's a tough league, and it's a strong league. So, I hope to adjust quickly and to be able to play with a lot quality as well."

7. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

STORY: Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti says he is targeting a European qualification spot after bringing in three major signings, including Colombian James Rodriguez, to boost his squad.

"I think the goal we want to achieve is to fight for the first positions of the Premier League to be able to reach Europe next season. The goal is quite clear. We have this desire, this ambition and I think we can," Ancelotti told a news conference ahead of Sunday's (September 13) opening game at Tottenham Hotspur.

Rodriguez, who joins from Real Madrid, is the biggest name purchase made by Ancelotti this week but Everton have also added Brazilian midfielder Allan from Napoli and Abdoulaye Doucoure, the imposing defensive midfielder from Watford.

Those acquisitions have once again raised expectations on Merseyside that the perennial mid-table side could be about to make a leap in quality.

Rodriguez, who has signed a two year contract with an option for a third year, certainly believes Everton are capable of competing for silverware.

A classic No. 10 who enjoys playing between the lines, Rodriguez will have to quickly adjust to the high-tempo and physicality of the English game but says he is ready for the Premier League challenge.

(Production: Mussab Al-Khairalla and Kurt Michael Hall)