Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he has no plans to take his Everton squad overseas for warm weather training during their break in fixtures next month.
The Blues have a 15-day gap in between their home game against Crystal Palace on February 8 and their trip to Arsenal on February 23.
However, after handing his players a short breather, their Italian boss will prepare for their visit to the Emirates Stadium at their regular Halewood complex.
Ancelotti said: “The plan for the winter break is to give some rest to the players, maybe four or five days, then start to train here.
“I want to stay here in Finch Farm because we have a fantastic training ground. We don't need to move around the world to travel, it's better to stay here.”
The 60-year-old admits that the timing of the break is unusual but believes that the rest period will enable both Everton and their rivals to recharge their batteries.
Ancelotti said: “For me it is new that there is a winter break in February. But the fact that in England you are playing in the Christmas period is really important for the Premier League so I understand this.
“But also the fact there will be a winter break in February can help all the teams to be better at the end of the season. This is for sure.”
Although Everton went away for warm weather training for three consecutive seasons in recent times under three different managers – Roberto Martinez (2016); Ronald Koeman (2017) and Sam Allardyce (2018) – Ancelotti's stance to stay home reflects that of his predecessor Marco Silva, who last year told the ECHO : “It was my decision. For me a training camp means that we go with a clear mind to work, to keep us together with more time to do something.
“But, I have all the conditions to do that here at Finch Farm. I didn't have any reason for us to go anywhere.”
