LUCAS WHO’S SWINGING THE LEAD AT BLUES
RAFA BENITEZ has hinted at a breakdown in his relationship with fan favourite Lucas Digne after the defender pulled out of tonight’s trip to Chelsea with sickness.
The Goodison manager, who left the full-back out of Everton’s last two matches following a bust-up between the pair, planned to start him at Stamford Bridge tonight.
But the 28-year-old French international, who moved to Merseyside from Spanish giants Barcelona in 2018, reported sick yesterday.
Benitez, favourite to be the next Premier League boss sacked following a terrible run of results in the Goodison hot seat, hinted that he suspects Digne may be swinging the lead.
Asked if he believed the defender was genuinely ill, the Blues boss replied pointedly: “It is not that I believe or not. I have been in football for so many years and I have so many experiences similar to this one and it is a question of making a decision.
“I have to be sure that the players who will be there tomorrow want to be there and they want to fight for the club.”
Benitez explained that Digne took part in a practice session earlier in the week for the Everton XI that was scheduled to start against Chelsea tonight.
“Lucas Digne is an important player for us,” former Liverpool and Chelsea boss Benitez said.
“Yesterday we did a training session and he was in the 11 starters and today he said he was ill and not available for tomorrow.”
Amid rumours that Digne wants to leave after questioning his new manager’s methods, Benitez was asked if he had directly requested a January move. He replied: “I cannot talk about my conversation with him.
“What I can say is that yesterday he was in the 11 starters and today he is ill and is not available. The future? I just have to concentrate on the next game.”
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, admits he has to resist catapulting “superman” N’Golo Kante into every game – even when there is the risk of him twanging another precious muscle.
Chelsea’s France superstar is only fit enough to return to the bench tonight after recovering from a twisted knee.
In his absence, the west Londoners have wobbled, with only two wins in their last five games.
But just the sight of the Frenchman back in action is a massive boost, Tuchel insisted, as his side attempt to keep pace in the title race.
Tuchel said: “N’Golo will be there to scare the Everton bench – every time he stands up and I call his name out.
“N’Golo is superman. When he is on the pitch, he reassures everybody else on the pitch and in the stadium. We have an extra gear.”