Rafael Benitez: Sacked manager did not realise magnitude of Everton task

Rafael Benitez has admitted he did not understand the magnitude of Everton’s task when he took over from Roberto Martinez at Goodison Park. The Spaniard was sacked by Chelsea in December 2015 and replaced at Middlesbrough with Garry Monk a month later.

Rafael Benitez is a manager who has had a very successful career. He was sacked by Liverpool and never realised the magnitude of Everton’s task when he took over. Read more in detail here: rafa benitez.

Following his firing on Sunday after less than seven months in command, Rafael Benitez admits he underestimated the “gravity of the challenge” at Everton.

Everton has only won one of their last 13 Premier League games, and they are now 16th in the league, six points clear of the relegation zone.

Following his departure, Benitez commented, “We knew it wouldn’t be easy.”

“It was a huge task, both mentally and physically.” My passion for this city, Merseyside, and its people pushed me to take on this job, but it is only once you are inside that you realize the immensity of the endeavor.

“Right from the start, my team and I worked with passion and commitment, like we usually do.” We needed not just to get results, but also to win people’s hearts.

“However, the financial condition, followed by the injuries, made things much more difficult.”

Everton convened an emergency board meeting on Saturday to examine Benitez’s future after Saturday’s 2-1 setback against Norwich, which was the club’s ninth loss in their last 12 league games.

Everton’s travelling supporters sang, “Get out of our club,” as a fan attempted to approach Benitez on the field.

Throughout the season, Benitez has been without numerous important players, including vital attackers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, as well as defender Yerry Mina, who have all been injured.

Vitalii Mykolenko from Dynamo Kyiv, Nathan Patterson from Rangers, and winger Anwar El-Ghazi on loan from Aston Villa have all joined the Toffees this month, with Lucas Digne completing a permanent transfer in the other way.

“I am confident that we would have been better once the injured players returned and the new additions arrived,” Benitez stated.

“The route to success isn’t simple, and regrettably, today in football, there is a quest for instant results and less and less patience; unfortunately, circumstances have decided the outcomes, and this project will not be continued.”

“In any event, I’d want to express my gratitude to the board, the staff, the players, and the fans who have supported us over this period.”

Benitez’s previous Premier League position before Everton was at Newcastle United, and he departs the Toffees with a 31.8 percent overall victory percentage, his worst in command of an English team.

Everton have 19 points after 19 games, and they have only had less points at this stage of a Premier League season twice before (17 in 1997-98 and 2005-06).

Wayne Rooney, the former Toffees striker who is currently the manager of Derby County, has been connected with the post.

Roberto Martinez, the Belgian coach, is another possible contender. In 2016, he became the first Everton manager to be fired by the club’s owner, Farhad Moshiri, although Sport believes he still has supporters inside the club’s hierarchy.

‘Rooney will be mentioned,’ says the source.

Everton are on the lookout for their sixth permanent manager since David Moyes left in 2013.

“He has been in the game long enough to know you have to achieve results, and if you don’t you will probably lose your job,” former England captain Alan Shearer remarked on Match of the Day the night before Benitez was fired.

“Yes, the outcomes have been dismal, but the issues extend beyond the management. When you consider how many managers they’ve gone through and how much money they’ve spent on players, it’s insane.”

Former Toffees striker Wayne Rooney might be considered, according to former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock, but Brighton’s Graham Potter should be first on Everton’s list.

“Wayne Rooney will be mentioned, and if he is given the position, it is up to Wayne where he believes he is at,” Warnock said on Radio 5 Live.

“From a club and fan standpoint, it would be quite tough to refuse.” Is he knowledgeable enough? He’d get the admiration of both the spectators and the players.

“The option I’m considering, and I know Brighton supporters won’t like me saying this, is Graham Potter. Everton supporters desire wide, expansive football, which he would provide.

“This meeting must be the correct one. Duncan Ferguson, the [assistant manager], is not the proper decision; they should seek elsewhere.”

Rafael Benitez’s last press conference as Everton manager

Everton won four of their first six Premier League games under Benitez, collecting 13 points out of a potential 18, but their record has deteriorated since October.

With current Real Madrid manager Ancelotti in charge, they finished 10th with 59 points previous season.

In December, director of football Marcel Brands resigned as owner Farhad Moshiri worked to resolve the club’s issue.

Clinton Morrison, a former Premier League striker, added: “At Everton, there hasn’t been a strategy in years.” They have not spent wisely, which is why the football director had to go.

“I thought Rafa would have a tough time coming there. He had a great start, but it’s always tough to lose games when you’ve been a superstar at Liverpool. Against Norwich, it wasn’t good enough. What are the top six? There’s no way. It’s possible that they’ll be relegated.”

After falling out of favor, left-back Lucas Digne departed the club for Aston Villa in a £25 million move earlier this week, saying he did not anticipate his time at Everton “to end this way.”

Danny Murphy said Radio 5 Live, “Benitez was constantly scaling a mountain.” “It seemed like they were behind him since they allowed him to sell Lucas Digne and sign players, so to ignore that, well, it’s a total wreck and there’s no true contender to come in and guarantee success.”

“They’re a big club, but they’ve got a lot of difficulties.”