David Moyes' assistant boss Alan Irvine detailed the hard work that Alcaraz has been putting in after he scored the winner against Wolves
Carlos Alcaraz of Everton celebrates his goal with Tyler Dibling, Brennan Johnson and team mates (Photo by Everton FC via Getty Images)
Carlos Alcaraz of Everton celebrates his goal with Tyler Dibling, Brennan Johnson and team mates (Photo by Everton FC via Getty Images)
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Alan Irvine could not hide his joy for match winner Carlos Alcaraz after the substitute sent Everton into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
Alcaraz curled beyond Joao Virginia with 10 minutes to go to give the Blues a deserved win over Wolves.
It was a big moment for a player who has struggled for minutes since the end of a summer transfer window in which his future was uncertain.
The significance of Alcaraz’s intervention was not lost on Irvine. The assistant manager, who took the post-match press conference instead of David Moyes, said: “I'm absolutely thrilled for Charly. He trains well every day.
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“He's massively disappointed whenever he's not in the team - as you would want players to be. And when he's had his chance then, tonight, he's got the goal and everybody is delighted for him.”
The goal came late in a game Everton had largely controlled. Virginia made a series of excellent saves, the best a reflex stop to deny Thierno Barry at the back post just before half time.
Jordan Pickford was called on to deny Adam Armstrong midway through the second half but while the winning goal came late, it was deserved as Everton overcame the side that defeated them in this stage of the tournament last season.
Wolves are no longer a Premier League team but Irvine made clear he did not expect an easy match. He said: “I don't know who thought it was going to be easy, but that certainly wasn't me. I do all the preparation with the analysts on the opposition and Wolves have got a very similar squad to the one that played in the Premier League last year, so I certainly didn't think it would be easy.
“Even with the changes they were able to make, it shows the depths that they've got and I would expect they'll be very competitive in the Championship this year.”