Rafael Benitez insists he is not daunted by the challenge of winning over Everton fans opposed to his appointment and says performances on the pitch will demonstrate his commitment to his new club
The arrival of Benitez, 61, as manager at Goodison Park prompted an angry reaction from some Toffees supporters because of the Spaniard’s Liverpool connections and his description of Everton as a “small club” during his six-year spell in charge at Anfield.
A banner with the message “We know where you live – Don’t Sign” was displayed near Benitez’s Merseyside home before his appointment, but the manager maintains he had no doubts about becoming as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor.
“When I decided to start talking with the club, I was convinced that this is a brilliant opportunity,” he said. “It was easy for me. I wanted to come back and have a competitive team. I am not scared, it is the opposite. I want to win, be competitive and ambitious.
“Talking about banners, it was maybe one or two people, you never know. It is better to think about positives. A lot of people are encouraging me to do well and I am happy with that.
“The Evertonians around my place are quite happy and very supportive. Even the Liverpudlians accept it is a chance for me to come back to the Premier League.”
Explaining his “small club” comment, he added: “It was a long time ago, you’re fighting for your club and then it’s what I do now. If you are the manager you have to defend your club in any context. In this case, I will fight for Everton.”
Ancelotti’s team suffered with inconsistency last season before eventually finishing in tenth place but Benitez maintains his new players are capable of setting their sights higher. “I am quite confident the team is strong enough,” he said. “If you can compete then you can win.
“It is more difficult when you have a team and the opposition is much better. Then you have to adapt everything, tactics and systems and players, who will start and who will not. Then it is more difficult. But in this case you have a team and you know you can be at the level of a lot of teams and if you do well you can compete against anyone. That is my target.”
Adding: “The question is – is it (winning trophies) possible? I would say yes. Will it be difficult? Yes, it will be difficult but you never know. The cup competitions, to be in Europe, depending on your belief, the way you work and if you are a bit lucky at the beginning then you will have more confidence in the future.”
Benitez refused to confirm James Rodriguez, the Colombia playmaker, will remain at the club and indicated some players may have to leave to allow new recruits to be brought in.
“Everybody knows that this club has spent a lot of money in the last few years so that means that Financial Fair Play is there,” he said.
“If you have players with big salaries that normally aren’t playing then you want to find a solution and this solution will mean you have money to spend on new players.
“So this is something that is very common in modern football now with these restrictions so we will try to maximise what we have and manage the best way possible to be sure we can bring quality and players that will make the team strong.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/36CR8t2
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