Everton fans have reacted angrily to claims by Rafa Benitez that his strong ties with Liverpool made the job of managing Everton very difficult from the beginning.
Speaking today this week to Sky Sports, Benitez admitted the task would be difficult 'because he knew he was Red'.
Everton under Rafa Benitez
His time at Everton was disastrous to say the least, picking up just 19 points from 19 games before his sacking in January.
The appointment of Benitez in June 2021 seemed bizarre given his history with bitter rivals Liverpool where he managed the club for six years, winning the Champions League in 2005 and an FA Cup in 2006. His appointment was met with anger from many Everton fans who saw Benitez as a Red.
With the Toffees enjoying an unbeaten opening four weeks to their 2021/22 campaign and sitting in the top 5 for 7 weeks of the season, Everton fans were starting to see beyond Benitez's past. However, this optimism soon disappeared after they only managed to win once between October and mid-January when Benitez was sacked.
Everton lost 9 of 13 matches, sitting 16th in the league. This was a terrible run of form that cost Benitez his job, and almost cost Everton their spot in the Premier League
Rafa Benitez on his time with Everton
In his Sky Sports interview today, Benitez opened up his failed time at Goodison Park. He also spoke about his main regret from his time at Everton.
I knew it could be difficult because I was Red, so maybe I couldn’t make some decisions. It was very clear for us at the beginning.
I had a meeting with a head of one of the departments and I asked him ‘do you think everything is fine?’ He said ‘yeah, everything is perfect.’ I thought ‘£600m had been spent, it cannot be perfect when the owners aren’t happy and the fans are not happy.’
So I realised we had to change things inside, but I couldn’t do it straight away because I was Red and it could be seen as ‘oh, he’s come in to change our club’.
In another club, I would have made those decisions. I did it in the past, because you know very clearly that is the way to improve, but there at Everton I couldn’t do it.”
Benitez claims that he was hesitant in his decision making process because he was worried about the reception from the Everton fans. He highlights how he would have not taken this approach at any other club, thus angering Everton fans who hold him in even lower regard than they previously did.
🗣️ “I was red. At Everton, I couldn’t do it.”
Rafael Benítez on his time at Everton and how his ties with Liverpool made it impossible to work at the club. pic.twitter.com/BQ20Tcardg— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 20, 2022
READ HERE: Rafa Benitez Stars In The Most Brilliantly Bizarre Football Calendar Of The Year
Everton fan reaction
Understandably, Everton fans have taken to Twitter to express their anger about the interview. Their main argument is that they feel Benitez is trying to avoid taking responsibility for his disastrous time at the club. Fans are annoyed at his excuse of being a 'Red' rather than his poor tactics. Others noted how former 'Liverpool-linked' players like Conor Coady made the switch to Everton without much fuss.
Contrary to what he and associated cheerleaders will try to claim, Benitez’s failure at Everton was far less down to being a self-proclaimed ‘Red’ and more about his heavily outdated approaches to tactics and personnel
— Richard Buxton (@RichardBuxton_) September 20, 2022
Yeah, that one win in 14 games had nothing to do with it…
Look at Conor Coady or any of our other previous Liverpool-linked players. You can be a Red and do well at Everton. Rafa Benitez just didn’t do well.
Appointing him is one of the worst decisions this club has ever made. https://t.co/dMeD5yRtuf— Everton Blue Army (@EvertonBlueArmy) September 20, 2022
Fans are arguing that Coady is proof that a 'Red' can be successful at Everton.
Btw, no one can question Conor Coady’s allegiance after that celebration. He was every blue at that moment. pic.twitter.com/hQylQ2BJXB
— Everton Watch (@Everton_Watch_) September 3, 2022
Overall it's not a good look for Rafa Benitez who has angered Everton fans even more with his comments, many questioning why he even took the job in the first place considering his allegiances.
SEE ALSO: Rafael Benitez Throws Subtle Frank Lampard Dig After Everton Form
