NIFTY GRADES OF GRAY
Everton new boy Demarai: Rafa is making me a better player already and the team are improving... it has chemistry... it has THREAT
DEMARAI GRAY says Rafa Benitez is the manager to make Everton believe.
Benitez has won over Toffees stars with his eye for detail and commitment to making them better players.
A positive start on the pitch has silenced the dissent on the terraces that ex-liverpool chief Benitez faced when he took charge in the summer.
A hard-fought away point at Leeds was another step forward for the Spaniard with Dominic Calvert-lewin scoring, and new signing Gray getting his first goal since a bargain £1.7million move from Bayer Leverkusen.
There was always likely to be a manager who could get the best out of the talented Gray, one who could make him a top player and a regular starter. And Benitez is making progress.
“I just feel the belief Rafa has,” said 25-year-old Gray. “His coaching and training methods, the way he is with us as a group and the manmanagement, have all been great so far.
“I feel like I have already improved. I have had many managers and you wonder what other details are there to know? But he has taught me things and benefits me. I hope my start continues, and I can keep contributing.
“Rafa is very calm. We were down against Southampton and he just gave us our instructions, made tactical changes and it makes a difference. He is a really detailed manager. The way he analyses the details and gives really clear instructions.
“You can see our responses in the second halves have been good, and as a group he is going to help us a lot.
“There is a lot to come from us as attacking players, There is chemistry. There is a threat. We look dangerous and have goals in us. We have instructions to deliver the ball in the box and we have Dom and Richarlison there.”
Benitez said of Gray: “He is doing well, everyone is seeing that. He scored. The main thing he gives is competition in the wide area and up front.
“It is good he plays at this level and others have to play well to get a place.”
The contest had pace and physicality. Calvert-lewin did a dance of joy in front of the Leeds fans, a Sheffield boy delighted to score against the Yorkshire rivals.
The England man slotted his penalty away well, after Liam Cooper held him back as he tried to get a touch on Gray’s cross.
But Benitez’s side squandered their foothold. Raphinha muscled in to get a great touch on the halfway line which sent Patrick Bamford in on goal, and he slipped the ball to Mateusz Klich to slot past Jordan Pickford.
Everton retook the lead just after half time, Gray turning inside Stuart Dallas and pinging a shot through his legs and across goal (left).
However, Leeds came back again. Cooper touched a loose ball in the area back to the outstanding Raphinha, who curled past Pickford with his left foot.
Benitez concluded: “Maybe it is a fair result.”