Riled Rafa has Mosh backing
EVERTON OWNER WANTS TO GIVE BENITEZ MORE TIME
Chief Football Writer
EVERTON’S board is divided over the future of Rafa Benitez – but he is safe while he still has the full backing of owner Farhad Moshiri.
The Merseysiders are in freefall after picking up just two points from their last eight games.
And the midweek thrashing by Liverpool has cranked up the pressure on Benitez, with those Goodison fans who were still there at the final whistle calling for the Spaniard’s reign to be ended after just five months.
The Everton directors will meet when the Blues entertain Arsenal tomorrow night.
Some members of the hierarchy now believe it was a mistake to appoint a manager who is an Anfield legend.
But it is understood that Moshiri (right) believes he has got the right man for the job in Benitez.
An Everton source said: “Rafa still has the full support of the owner – and that message has been conveyed to him.
“There are reasons why recent results have been disappointing, with so many players out injured it has been a tough period for the team.” Moshiri will hand
Benitez the money to strengthen his squad in the January transfer market.
Three of the four players he recruited on his arrival were free transfers, with £1.8million spent on Demarai Gray.
Everton have lavished almost £530m on new signings since Moshiri took control of the club in February 2016.
Moshiri feels Benitez must be given time and money to put his fingerprint on the team.
He is aware that Benitez resisted the temptation to quit the club to return to
Newcastle as a hero when Toon were taken over by a Saudi Arabian consortium in October. And the lack of experienced alternatives also strengthens the manager’s position. Benitez’s plans have been disrupted by a stream of injuries – with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina, Tom Davies and Andre Gomez still missing and Richarlison, Seamus Coleman and Fabian Delph also spending time on the treatment table.
However, Benitez has started to run out of patience with some of the players
who have been unable to carry out his tactical instructions – and questions are now being asked about the role of director of football Marcel Brands.
Centre-half Michael Keane revealed that the players feel they have let the club down – but insisted they all feel passionately about Everton.
Keane said: “All the lads love this club and are working hard every day.
“We have let the fans down in the past few weeks.
“I don’t think you can blame lack of effort. Every time we step on the pitch, we look at the stats and we outrun most teams we play against, so it’s not down to a lack of work rate.
“The fans here are so passionate, more than any fans I know in the country.
“We need them to stick with us, get behind us and help us get a result now against Arsenal.
“We must create an atmosphere and, hopefully, get a win on
Monday.”