Jordan Pickford has credited Carlo Ancelotti and Robin Olsen for the role they played in helping the Everton goalkeeper rediscover his best form.
The shot-stopper found his place in the Blues line-up under scrutiny earlier this season following a number of high-profile errors, without doubts also thrown over his status as England’s number one.
Former Everton boss Ancelotti kept faith with the 27-year-old for the majority of the season, but did bench him on two occasions, against Newcastle United and Leicester City, as he turned to Sweden international Olsen instead.
After finishing the season strongly at Goodison, Pickford has been the Three Lions’ star performer at Euro 2020 and kept clean sheets in all four of his appearances so far to help Gareth Southgate’s side reach the quarter-finals.
And he has praised Ancelotti’s handling of him and the extra competition provided by Roma loanee Olsen for helping him through his more challenging moments of the campaign.
“Robin came into the club at Everton last season to push me on and it’s always better when there’s competition there for you,” Pickford told reporters.
"The more competition, the more you want to prove them wrong and get better and better.
“For me, last season was great because we had Robin there and the manager, Carlo, took me out the game a couple of times to give me a rest and get recharged.
“Unfortunately I had a couple of little niggles and injuries, so that gave me an added break really which I didn’t want but I had to do it.
“And then I came back and I was flying and I felt in a good place and just carried that into the England set-up.”
Pickford also revealed when he found out that Rafa Benitez would be taking over as Everton’s new manager following Carlo Ancelotti’s shock return to Real Madrid last month.
But despite already speaking to the Spaniard since his appointment, the goalkeeper admitted he won’t be thinking too much about the situation back at Everton until after Euro 2020.
“I only found out yesterday when the manager got announced when it came out,” he said.
“I’ve just been solely focused on England and just focusing on one goal and letting the Everton stuff take care of itself.
“When our paths crossed, when I spoke to the manager, which I did last night, it happened but I’ve got to be focused on England and getting the best outcome we can.”
