“Learned the hard way” – Alex Iwobi on how he lost his place in Ancelotti’s Everton team

Super Eagles and Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed how ex-Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti gave him the hairdryer treatment during their time at Everton, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 29-year-old joined the Toffees in the same summer the Italian coach took charge of the dugout at the blue side of Merseyside.

While Iwobi arrived from Arsenal as a flair and fleet-footed winger, his game became refined at Everton as he played in a deeper position.

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Alex Iwobi reveals how he lost his place in Ancelotti's Everton team

The Super Eagles midfielder was tried across several positions under the former Napoli coach. One of those moments came, and Iwobi reacted by posting on his social media that he'd prefer to play in his favourite position.

A question then came up in a press conference as Ancelotti was quizzed about Iwobi's antics, and what unfolded didn't go in favour of the Arsenal Academy graduate.

“With Carlo Ancelotti, I learned the hard way. It was a moment of madness from me. I like to be on the ball, take a touch, or play a one-two pass, but he just didn't see me as that player,” the one-time FA Cup winner said on the High Performance podcast.

“The opportunities I got to play were at right wing-back, right back, right midfield, and he told me whenever I got the ball, I should always give it to James Rodrigues, Allan and other people, but I thought I could do something as well.

“Then, one time, on social media, I posted on my story that I wished I could play my preferred position, and he got asked in his press conference.

“He came to me and asked me where I usually played, and I told him, and we tried that position in the next game against Burnley.

“We were down two goals at halftime, and ten minutes into the second half, I got subbed off, and I didn't play again for the next four games.

“With all due respect to Everton, their game was slide tackling and running hard, which wasn't in my nature,” the Fulham midfielder concluded.

Iwobi and Ancelotti spent two years together before the Italian rejoined Real Madrid, while Frank Lampard took over the Everton coaching role.