Carlo Ancelotti believes that Everton ‘deserve’ their current top four place.
Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal saw the Blues move up to second in the Premier League table before being downgraded by results elsewhere.
Wins for Leicester City and Manchester United saw Ancelotti’s side drop down to fourth, behind their upcoming Carabao Cup opponents on goal difference.
However the Italian admits that his players’ efforts led to a previously unlikely shot at Champions League qualification a distinct possibility for Everton.
“I didn’t think [the top four was possible],” said Ancelotti.
“That means that the job the players are doing is fantastic job.
“We had problems, we had injuries as all the other teams had. We had the difficult moments but we were able to adapt to all these things.
“Honestly, we deserve to be there because the job that my players are doing is really good.”
Ancelotti still anticipates a tough fight for a Champions League place but also sees it as an incentive for Everton in the second half of the campaign.
He added: “I think to arrive at the end of the season in the top four will be really difficult and really complicated.
“As I said, our target is to compete for the European positions. We are now in the European positions, in the top four, but the season is long.
“But we need to have the ambition. I think the ambition will help us have more motivation.”