Everton fans don't need reminded of the club's long pursuit of a trophy, they're already well aware of the wait they have endured.
However, whenever a cup match comes around, that inevitable question is asked to whichever man currently sits in the Blues hotseat.
"How important will it be to end Everton's silverware drought?"
On the face of it, it's a generic question. Of course we all know how crucial it could be for this group of players to finally lift a trophy and break an embarrassing recent record at Goodison Park.
Supporters are desperate for the Blues to finally stand triumphant at the end of a competition, as there are growing generations of fans who cannot remember the last time the club managed to do it.
But, when Carlo Ancelotti was asked the question ahead of his side coming up against Spurs in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday evening, his answer was much more interesting than it might have initially seemed.
He said: "We are working for this. I know how Evertonians are desperate to win trophies and we are working on this.
"I don't know really now if it's the right time, or the right time this season. What I can assure is we are doing everything to try and have a trophy here as soon as possible."
This is a manager with a huge wealth of experience across cup competitions in Europe. He's one of the most successful bosses in world football.
But, he's keen to temper the desperation for silverware just a little bit.
Ancelotti is aware of the obvious need that Everton fans have to finally be able to celebrate some silverware, because how could he not?
A club of this size and with this huge amount of history behind it shouldn't ever have to wait this long for another trophy, but the manager also knows that they could potentially be forced to wait a little longer.
For the FA Cup, the last side to claim the trophy outside the established "top six" were Wigan Athletic way back in 2013. For the League Cup you have to go back to the same year, with Swansea City's victory, for a "surprise" winner.
At the time of writing Manchester United, Man City, Spurs and Chelsea all remain in the competition - which could well mean the road to the final will be a tough one.
But, if there's anyone who knows what it takes to win a trophy, it is Ancelotti.
In actual fact, on some level it's almost refreshing to hear an Everton boss speak in terms as realistic as this when it comes to discussing his side's hopes for a trophy.
It would have been easy for Ancelotti, with the CV he boasts, to make an altogether empty promise about the expectations for the current campaign - especially with the weight of pressure that the current drought commands.
However, he's more realistic - without being negative in any way.
When he says that he and his players will be doing their utmost to win a trophy as soon as possible, you believe him.
If it doesn't happen this season, whether Everton beat Spurs on Wednesday evening or not, there's still the belief that the run will eventually end with Ancelotti leading the club to silverware at some stage in the future.
Jose Mourinho even said the same in his press conference, remarking: "Carlo with time, he will win. I’m not saying that Everton can jump over the top clubs, with incredible history. It’s not an easy process of course.
"But with Carlo, and with patience, and with time, and with continuous development of the team, nobody better than Carlo to give a trophy to Everton."
The Blues are on the path towards silverware again regardless of what happens against Spurs at Goodison Park, and perhaps that feeling can be a boost to the players.
In the past, the pressure of being the side to break the duck may well have had an adverse effect on those who stepped out onto the pitch.
An empty Goodison is not what anyone wants for this fixture, and Everton will be at a disadvantage without their fans to roar them home - just look at the Chelsea game in 2016 as evidence for that.
But, Ancelotti's comments in his press conference have perhaps shrewdly managed to divert some of the pressure away from his side and could allow them to go out on Wednesday night full of belief and confidence in themselves.
Because, at the heart of it all, he still wants to win this competition - of course he does. He will want to be lifting the FA Cup at the end of the season as much as any supporter.
He later said that European football is more important for the stability of the club, but admitted that for "happiness" the important part is winning a trophy.
He gets both of those if he wins the FA Cup this season.
But fans know the club is on the right path with their current manager regardless. He is a winner, he knows what he's doing, and the trophy will surely come under his leadership eventually.
If he can't do it, then who could?
